Last week
Raiders 38, Jets 33
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. · Sun Nov 1 · Raiders 4–4, Jets 2–6
Ladies and gentlemen, the losing streak is over. The museum has opened a new wing. The 3–0 start was False Hope, Vol. 1. Please welcome Vol. 2.
The Raiders beat a 2–6 team by five points (AP; raiders.com; newyorkjets.com). It took a kick return, an end-zone interception with seconds left and a 141 passer rating to do it (Review-Journal; raiders.com). The Jets outgained them 439–333 and outrushed them 166–95 (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). Celebrate accordingly. Briefly.
AFC West, after Week 8: Broncos 6–2, Chiefs 5–2, Raiders 4–4, Chargers 0–7 (NFL.com; FOX Sports). Kansas City is a game and a half clear of the Raiders with a game in hand, after a loss. Even stumbling, the Chiefs stand on a different floor of the building.
The play for the museum: the first half
The Jets scored on their first six possessions, the first time since 2008 (newyorkjets.com). They outgained the Raiders 276–97 before halftime (Review-Journal; newyorkjets.com). The Raiders had the ball once in the second quarter and turned it over on downs when fullback Connor Heyward took a direct snap and was stopped at the line (newyorkjets.com). A direct snap to the fullback. On purpose. Frame it.
Jets honor roll: Braelon Allen and Adonai Mitchell
Allen ran for a career-high 147 yards on 21 carries, including a 21-yard touchdown (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal reports 166 team rushing yards). Mitchell caught seven passes for a career-high 142 yards (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). Honorable mention: Geno Smith, the quarterback the Raiders traded away in March, threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns against them (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal).
Raiders exhibit of the week: the defense, graded D-minus
The Review-Journal's grade was D-minus, with an "F" "marked down in pencil" (Review-Journal). A rebuilding team ran for 6.1 yards a carry (Review-Journal). The defense that couldn't stop the Jets for a half has been the league's worst run defense all month. It won a game it spent two quarters losing.
The nepo line: Klint Kubiak snapped a 12-game losing streak in games the Raiders trailed at halftime (Review-Journal). The RJ also flagged the end-of-half timeout handling and the defensive plan (Review-Journal). His father built a Super Bowl defense. The son's defense let a 2–5 team score on six straight drives. Some inheritances skip the useful parts.
Tom Brady, minority owner, majority mirage: The Brayders beat the Jets and the owner gets to feel like a winner for six days. Tom, you won seven rings with good teams. You bought into this one. The Tommy Boys are 4–4 and celebrating like it's February.
Raiders who scored points, ranked by how much it mattered (not much)
- Brock Bowers (12, TD catches of 12 and 2 yards): (raiders.com; Review-Journal). Bowers, two touchdowns, and the defense gave both back before you'd finished the handshake line.
- Dylan Laube (6, 95-yd kickoff return TD): The NFL's first kickoff-return touchdown of the season and the Raiders' first since Jacoby Ford in 2011 (raiders.com; Review-Journal). Laube, the franchise waited 15 years for that. You answered a Jets touchdown, which tells you how often the defense lets them kick off.
- Kirk Cousins (6, 1-yd TD sneak): 19 of 26, 247 yards, three TD passes (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). Then the elbow dance, which he called his "Wellness Celebration" (Review-Journal; AP). Cousins, a 1-yard sneak against a 2–5 team is not a reason to flap like poultry.
- Jalen Nailor (6, 2-yd go-ahead TD catch, Q4): His first touchdown as a Raider (raiders.com; AP). Nailor, it took eight games and a 2-yard throw. The end zone was practically in your pocket.
- Matt Gay (8, 53-yd FG plus five PATs): (raiders.com; newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). Gay, your kick "all but iced" a game the Raiders should never have needed iced (Review-Journal). The coach trusted you over a punt. Next week the coach will find something else to trust you with.
Opposing-fan note: Road game; not applicable.
House read: A win over a 2–6 team, earned by the offense and spent by the defense. Shelved under False Hope, next to 3–0.
Autopsy
Jets kicker Sanders opened with a 21-yarder. Cousins answered with a 12-yard touchdown to Bowers (newyorkjets.com; raiders.com). The Jets added a 36-yard field goal and Smith's 18-yard touchdown to Isaiah Williams. Laube returned the next kickoff 95 yards to make it 14–13 (raiders.com; newyorkjets.com). The Jets led 23–14 at halftime (newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). Bowers caught a 2-yard touchdown. Allen ran 21 yards to make it 30–21. Cousins snuck in from the 1 (raiders.com; newyorkjets.com). After the Jets' first punt, Jeanty's 45-yard catch-and-run set up Nailor's 2-yard go-ahead touchdown: 35–30 (newyorkjets.com; AP). Sanders kicked his fourth field goal, from 31. Gay hit from 53 (raiders.com; newyorkjets.com). Smith's last heave into the end zone was intercepted by Jeremy Chinn (raiders.com; newyorkjets.com; Review-Journal). The Raiders went 4 for 4 in the red zone. The Jets went 2 for 6 (newyorkjets.com). The Jets lost this one more than the Raiders won it.