Grading the Raiders’ loss against the Broncos

How the team performed in a 16-10 loss at Denver:

OFFENSE: D

Credit quarterback EJ Manuel for replacing the injured Derek Carr (back) late in the third quarter and completing 11 of 17 passes for 106 yards, but the Raiders haven’t done anything consistently well on this side the past two games. You can’t rush for 24 yards and expect to win anything. Johnny Holton scored his first career touchdown on a 64-hard grab and Carr should be OK to play against Baltimore in Oakland on Sunday. But if the line doesn’t return to expected form, the struggles will continue. Amari Cooper (league-high seven drops this season) needs some of that famous Lester Hayes stickum.

DEFENSE: B

If you would have said the Broncos would be held to 16 points after a seven-play, 88-yard scoring drive in the first quarter, most would have laughed. But despite dealing with continuing injuries at cornerback (David Amerson was lost early with another concussion) the defense kept the Raiders in it until the end. Khalil Mack (seven tackles, three for loss, two sacks, four quarterback hurries) was fantastic, Mario Edwards Jr. had a sack and linebacker Cory James a team-best 10 tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-minus

A botched fake punt was followed by a serious brain cramp of unsportsmanlike conduct from Marquette King, who in all his genius threw the ball at an opposing player. King did have two punts downed inside the 20. Cordarrelle Patterson returned a kick for 49 yards, but the Raiders also allowed a 29-yard punt return. Giorgio Tavecchio, maybe the team’s MVP through four games, is now 7 for 7 on field goals and 10 for 10 on extra points for the Raiders.

COACHING: F

The fake punt came on fourth-and-11 from the Raiders 33 and went for a loss of 3 yards in a 16-7 game late in the third quarter. Huh? Also, do you think perhaps Jack Del Rio is rethinking the idea of going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Denver 31 and trailing 10-0 in the second quarter? A field goal there would have meant chasing a three-point deficit instead of six in the final minutes of the game and the Raiders in Denver territory.

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