After every loss, critics look to point the finger. On Sunday, Raider Nation should look no further than a slow start from a sleepwalking offense and a defensive coordinator who must re-establish his once-dominant run defense.
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater came into the game with the same amount of touchdown passes as the Vikings tallied in the win column: six. Oakland should have expected the NFL’s leading rusher to help carry his team to victory along with a suffocating defense—and that’s exactly what happened.
Oakland contained Peterson in the first half, holding him under 50 yards, but Minnesota remained true to its identity. The Vikings controlled the clock and limited the Raiders offense to two possessions in the third quarter. Peterson choked the life out of a possible Raiders comeback with 154 rushing yards in the second half.
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. failed to counter the Vikings' grind-it-out ground attack, and the Raiders offense couldn’t establish a rhythm.
Quarterback Derek Carr racked up 302 passing yards but uncharacteristically turned the ball over in critical moments—once deep in Oakland territory, and once in the red zone, courtesy of Vikings cornerback Terence Newman.
Oakland struggled to hang with a well-coached defense that made a concerted effort to safeguard against splash plays from an electric offense.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
