The Raiders had a couple of positives on Sunday. The crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson was filled with fans in silver and black – making Oakland feel at home before the kickoff – and Derek Carr connected with Amari Cooper on an 87-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Other than that, however, it was just more of the same from a 2017 season steeped in disappointment.
The Raiders fell to the Chargers in the final game of the season, 30-10, to wind up 6-10. It was a punch in the gut for a franchise coming off a 12-4 year in 2016 and billed as a Super Bowl contender. The team was plagued by injuries – its top two draft picks barely played – Carr took a huge step back, the offense was pedestrian under a new offensive coordinator (who will soon be the old offensive coordinator), the defense didn’t come alive until Ken Norton Jr. was fired and now head coach Jack Del Rio appears to be on the hot seat, with rumors Jon Gruden could replace him.
The season is over, but the offseason promises to be eventful. There is much to address.
On Sunday, the Raiders took an early lead, 10-7, on Cooper’s long TD play and Giorgio Tavecchio’s 40-yard field goal in the second period, then watched as Philip Rivers and the Chargers took over. Rivers threw two TD passes before the half, then the Chargers added a field goal and another Rivers scoring toss in the third quarter to put the final nails in the Raiders coffin for a season long since declared dead.
The Raiders pass defense was picked apart by Rivers, who completed 28-of-37 throws for 387 yards, three TDs and no interceptions.
Carr, meanwhile, was 19-of-28 for 243 yards, with one TD and one interception and a lost fumble.
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Running back Marshawn Lynch carried 19 times for 101 yards, and Cooper had three catches for 115 yards.
Let the changes begin.
