National Football League

PFF Recap: Grading the Oakland Raiders in Week 2

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:16 p.m. ET

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Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) prepares to throw a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Reactions to PFF’s grades of the Oakland Raiders after their Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

The comeback kids fell short.

The Oakland Raiders (1-1) were unable to overcome a large deficit in the fourth quarter to earn victory over the visiting Atlanta Falcons (1-1) in Week 2, losing the contest 35-28.

Here we break down how ProFootballFocus.com graded the individual efforts within the Raiders’ first loss of the season.

Derek Carr Stays on Track

Raiders third-year quarterback Derek Carr entered the 2016 season as the believed leader of a young, talented team on the cusp of a playoff birth. Despite coming up short against Atlanta, the former Fresno State gunslinger has thrived in his leadership role now in back-to-back games.

Carr, a second-round pick out of Fresno State in the 2014 NFL draft, completed 34 of 45 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in an effort to dig out of the deep hole his defense put him in (we’ll get to them later), earning the highest offensive grade on Oakland’s offense (81.4).

Though he appeared contained at times because of what many see as Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s desire to keep the passing game short, Carr highlighted in his postgame press conference that Atlanta placed an added emphasis on limiting Oakland’s deep passing attack.

Carr especially had success when blitzed, as he completed 12 of 14 pass attempts for 92 yards and two touchdowns when Atlanta brought extra rushers, per PFF.com.

Leading with both his play and his words, Carr still emphasized the level of confidence he has in his defense to turn things around despite their abysmal performance.

“You know the guy I talk to the most is obviously Khalil [Mack],” Carr said, via Raiders.com. “Obviously just because our friendship. But every time I come off, he’s always there for some reason. That guy is always on one. Bruce [Irvin], Reggie [Nelson], all of those guys are jumping around and getting excited…. These guys, they’re in it. That’s why it’s so easy for me to say, I don’t worry about them. I know how talented they are. I throw against them every day. I say that with such confidence because they pick my balls up. Training camp was so competitive. That’s why I’m not worried at all. Sometimes, there are stretches like that. It’s football. Sometimes it’s like that, but we’ll go back to the drawing board. I’m not worried about it.”

Regardless of what Carr’s confidence in his defense, Oakland will struggle to pick up wins as the season progresses if their defense doesn’t start picking up at least some of slack.

Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) stands on the field before the start of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders’ Front Four Remain Strong

It can’t be all bad news on the defensive side of the ball for the Silver and Black, right?

Raiders interior defensive lineman Stacy McGee managed to shine through an otherwise disastrous performance defensively, earning a 83.8 overall grade with three combined tackles and an early sack on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan early in the first quarter.

Though fellow Raiders defensive tackles Denico Autry and Dan Williams have seen more snaps along the interior in the past, McGee’s breakout performance could push him into an increased role in the following weeks.

Former third-round pick Justin Ellis also had a solid day in the trenches, for he was awarded the third highest grade among Oakland’s defensive players (76.6).

Outside of McGee and Ellis, Raiders edge-rushers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin have performed well through two games. Mack, coming off a solid 76.5 overall grade in last week’s matchup against New Orleans, earned Oakland’s top defensive grade of the day at 84.7.

Irvin, on the other hand, couldn’t improve upon his 82.2 overall grade in Week 1, but he still finished with the Raiders’ fourth highest grade on defense (72.4.).

Despite their consistent production, the two had little to no affect on Ryan and Atlanta’s passing attack, as they both failed to put relatively any pressure on the quarterback through four quarters.

Because Mack and Irvin have earned solid grades against the run (75.8 and 80.6, respectively), the two are still highlighted by PFF as top performers in this game, but their lack of impact in the passing game will cost Oakland games down the road if it isn’t improved, especially if the Raiders’ woes in the secondary continue.

Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) scores a touchdown in front of Oakland Raiders free safety Reggie Nelson (27) in the fourth quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders’ Remaining Seven Struggle in Comparison

Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio relieved defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. from his play calling duties late in the fourth quarter because of his defense’s inability to keep Ryan and company from marching down the field with elite consistency. Yes, it was that bad.

The Falcons averaged 8.2 yards per play in route to their 528-yard performance offensively, ultimately killing the Raiders’ chances by scoring on six of their final eight drives to close out the game.

Due in large part to the level of play from both their linebackers and safeties, the Raiders allowed the Falcons’ slew of tight ends — Jacob Tamme, Austin Hooper, and Levine Toilolo — to dictate the game offensively. The three combined for 10 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown.

Oakland’s starting inside linebackers Ben Heeney and Malcolm Smith failed to take advantage of the strong play from their front four in both phases of the game, pushing their overall grades on the season down to 44.8 and 34.2, respectively.

Heeney, a fifth-round pick out of Kansas in the 2015 NFL draft, made it difficult to watch at times. His motor is through the roof and he will never quit on the play, but his aggressive, high-effort style negatively affects his instincts and technique, and he rarely is ever there to make the play before the whistle. By all means, he’ll dive on the pile, but it’s about time he creates one.

Similarly to Heeney and Smith, safeties Reggie Nelson and Keith McGill struggled as a pair taking on the deep middle of the field and making plays in the run game.

Nelson, a former Pro Bowl safety with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015, has struggled to return to Pro Bowl form with Oakland, to say the least. Against Atlanta, Nelson contributed to the Raiders’ inability to limit the Falcons’ tight ends, especially when defending the play action.

Through two games, Nelson ranks 39th among all eligible safeties in the NFL (44.7).

Unlike Nelson, McGill put together a strong performance in Week 1, as he earned Oakland’s top defensive grade against the Saints; however, he was unable to recreate a similar performance in Week 2.

McGill dropped down to a 40.9 overall grade on the season because of his play against Atlanta due in large part to his inability to stick his man in coverage and play the run.

As you might expect, Oakland’s corners followed suit.

Sep 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson (29) intercepts a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerbacks Struggle; David Amerson Lone Highlight with ‘Solid’ Grade

Going against two high-powered offenses like those of the Saints and Falcons will have a negative effect on almost all NFL secondaries, but the Raiders have managed to exceed that expectation.

For the second consecutive week, Raiders veteran cornerback Sean Smith failed to meet expectations. Though he did manage to avoid the bench for the duration of the game, Smith struggled significantly in press man-coverage, as he often fell behind Falcons lead receiver Julio Jones without creating contact at the line of scrimmage.

Despite his strong grade against the run (84.6), Smith still has the worst overall grade among Raiders cornerbacks this season (42.3).

On the other hand, fourth-year corner David Amerson has been a non-factor against the run, earning a 37.2 through two games, but he has held his own in coverage. He boasted the Raiders’ fifth-best defensive grade (68.7) on Sunday.