My observations from the Raiders romp

1. The final drive showed off Kenny Pickett's poise in a big way

2. The defense certainly came to play tonight

3. At times it seemed as if Najee was channelling Franco Harris

4. Aside from the scoring drive, the offense was largely uninspiring

5. Chris Boswell's uncharacteristic night could've won the game without needing Pickett's drive

6. If we had this same defense all season, we probably would've clinched a playoff birth tonight

7. Absolutely loved the halftime tribute, and so glad no one in black and gold will wear #32 again

8. Muth came up big when needed

9. Cannot speak enough about the job done on josh Jacobs

10. While Boswell was inconsistent, Presley Harvin was on point

 

The run defense was excellent after that first drive. Cam Heyward was fantastic. That said, they got a lot of help from Carr, who missed open receivers all night. All three interceptions were poor throws, though the first one probably should have been caught, anyway. The last one was an awful throw when there was a huge breakdown on defense to allow Renfro to get open that deep.

 

1. The biggest thing.


I'm glad you made it number one.

You may be able to do the job but if you think you can't you'll get in your own way.

Great for KP going forward. Now he must build on the confidence that he can win the game.

 

Pickett showed something on that TD drive to Pickens, that's what we wanted to see from him against Miami at the end of the game

 

Good job by the defense shutting down Jacobs, and Adams.

 

The defensive game plan was great. Especially considering we were missing some guys in the secondary.

We shutdown Jacobs/Adams and forced the other guys to make plays.

Canada still doesn't know how to call a full NFL caliber game.

I don't know if KP was timid or if the routes were bad, but that was a tough 1st half.

 

After that first drive, Jacobs carried the ball 10 times for 18 yards.

 

And yet some of our esteemed members lambasted the defense to all eternity

The defense that gave up 10 points with a sputtering offense

There are some total idiots who post here

 

The Raiders 6 second half possessions were 3 punts and 3 picks.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/c17ClRL92ko?feature=share

 

My heart sank when Carr threw that last pass and the camera panned over and the WR was so wide open and behind the safeties! Thank god for the bad throw.

 

11. Edmunds wasn't dressed for the game... and that cost the team 15 yards.

 

This win made me feel really good.

Aside from that, the run D has more good days than bad this year. #8 showed poise and toughness on that final drive. The run with Heyward might have been Canada's best play call of the season (which isn't saying a lot).

 

Agree with your points as usual. I will give Boz a little slack. Given the conditions, they put him into bad situations. When the get past the 35, their focus needs to be on yards and first downs. The play calls just lack in this department. Drives stall because of terrible play calling. They need quick developing plays that can net several yards. They need plays that if 4 yards are needed, they get at least 4.5 yards not 2.5 or 3.5. And so, on both of the drives with missed field goals, the could've moved the ball a little closer to give him a shot. Had they been successful on 3rd down when they attempted the 52 yarder, they might have gone for it on 4th.

 

The referee’s need to throw flags when the defender’s won’t let offensive guys up off the ground after the play (Harris on the final drive)

 

boz is tied for his worst season to date.

warren was a good find.

maulet has played pretty good this year, another good find.

nice catch by sutton.

highsmith, playing well. what could have been if TJ was healthy all year.

good job KP.

offense young but we have some talent.

i have to say bush didn't play too bad.

 

Quite the impressive catch though by Sutton...... He's dropped so many easy ones I was gonna start referring to him as Ike 2.0

 

After that 1st drive thought jacobs would go 200+. Kudos to the Def who came up big multiple times throughout the game. Their best effort all year.

 

If i don’t have to listen to Rich Eisen call a game ever again it will be too soon

 

I would just add this…CAM HEYWARD IS THE STEELERS’ MIP! (MOST INVALUABLE PLAYER)

Also, I was wrong about Connor. That dude’s a gamer and well worth a late round pick!

 

I agree… he was so whiny and naggy and adding nonsensical commentary.

 

12. I learned about a rule I didn’t know: only hands can complete a catch. Harris’ thigh-catch wasn’t a catch.

 

That playcall for the touchdown at the end, and the call for the run by Heyward to seal the game were probably the 2 beat playcalls I’ve seen Canada make all year.

He probably doesn’t make either of those a few weeks ago.

I think Steve Smith was sort of saying the same thing at the end of the broadcast?

I think we got lucky with the weather last night. For some reason Raiders were trying to throw and it cost them. I know Jacobs got “stuffed,” but if they would have committed to it they would have had more success.

 

Most of us have been saying it all year why the F don't they throw the ball to the middle of the field.
On the last drive did Pickett go Big Ben mode and call his own plays. Nice easy on target completions over the middle.
Defense took away their best weapons and looked very good. Cam was a beast and looked 5 yrs younger.
I hope this doesn't give the head office any ideas that Canada is an actual NFL OC.
When Pickett rolls out to escape pressure I don't see any WR's working back to help him out a few times I saw guys standing still.
Still way too many check downs on 3rd and 8 to stationary targets at the LOS.
As much as I sometimes bash Tomlin the team does still play hard for him.
So MERRY CHRISTMAS
Oh and my buddy a Raiders fan owes me a dinner.

 

Steve Smith said the Steelers offensive play calling was “Saturday-ish”. The number one priority for the Steelers FO this off-season is to find an OC that will allow Kenny to take the next step in his development followed closely by beefing up his OL, especially his blindside. Any success Kenny is having this season is in spite of the OC and not because of the OC.