The Las Vegas Raiders have dealt with an email scandal that forced coach Jon Gruden out after five games, and a fatal drunken driving crash that led to the release of star receiver Henry Ruggs III.
Yet they still find themselves in position to make the playoffs for the second time in 19 seasons.
Now as they prepare for a season-ending showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers they learned that rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs has been arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge.
“As distractions go away, we’ve kind of learned to deal with distractions around here,” interim coach Rich Bisaccia said Monday after news of Hobbs’ arrest became public.
Bisaccia had no more details on Hobbs’ status as the Raiders main focus is on the Chargers following Sunday’s come-from-behind 23-20 win at Indianapolis that set the stage for the big finale.
With a win at home Sunday night against the Chargers, the Raiders (9-7) will make the playoffs for just the second time in the past 19 seasons. Las Vegas also can get in with one loss by Pittsburgh and a Colts loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Raiders have done a good job to get into this position by winning the past three weeks by a total of nine points. A struggling offense has made just enough plays in key spots, the defense has held firm and kicker Daniel Carlson has made two walk-off field goals.
“We’ve had to win the last three weeks to even make this one mean something,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “I think just keeping the mindset and keeping the main thing the main thing. … I think every game for the last month, really, has been a playoff game for us and I don’t think anything changes this week.”
WHAT’S WORKING
“Red Zone Renfrow.” The Raiders have had issues scoring TDs in the red zone this season but the one reliable option has been slot receiver Hunter Renfrow, who has caught seven of Carr’s 15 TD passes in the red zone. That’s the most in a season for any Raiders player since at least 2000 and is tied for the sixth most of any wide receiver this season.
“He makes big plays in big situations, and he’s done it his whole career,” Bisaccia said. “He did it at Clemson and now he’s doing it at the National Football League. I can’t say enough about the chemistry between him and Derek and his ability to understand the field or get himself in open positions.”
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Takeaways. The Raiders’ defense has cOme up with some big plays during this win streak but haven’t gotten a single takeaway. The Raiders are the fifth team in the past 60 years to win three straight games without a takeaway and they rank second to last in the NFL with 13 on the season.
STOCK UP
Zay Jones had eight catches for 120 yards for his most prolific game in two-plus seasons with the Raiders. The eight catches tied a career high set in 2018 with the Bills, and Jones had his first 100-yard receiving game in five NFL seasons. Jones has at least five catches in four straight games.
STOCK DOWN
Alex Leatherwood. The rookie guard committed a key false start that thwarted a red-zone drive. Leatherwood has been called for 14 penalties this season, tied for the second most in the NFL, including a league-worst seven false starts.
INJURIES
The Raiders hope to get back TE Darren Waller this week after his return from a knee injury was delayed last week when he went on the COVID-19 list. Waller hasn’t played since Thanksgiving.
KEY NUMBER
Minus-2 — The Raiders have had a turnover margin of minus-2 or worse in all three games during this winning streak, becoming the first team since the 1964 Bills to win three games in a row despite a turnover margin that poor.
NEXT STEPS
The Raiders host the Chargers on Sunday night, with the winner going to the playoffs in the regular season’s final game.
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