Las Vegas Raiders' special teams unit kept them in the game vs. Denver despite not having their coordinator
The Las Vegas Raiders did great on Sunday on special teams, despite the loss. That's really what kept the Raiders in the game from start to finish. And, the best part is, they didn't even have their special teams coordinator. Q Meyers reported that Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon would not be coaching Denver. Derius […]
The Las Vegas Raiders did great on Sunday on special teams, despite the loss. That's really what kept the Raiders in the game from start to finish. And, the best part is, they didn't even have their special teams coordinator.
Q Meyers reported that Special Teams Coordinator Tom McMahon would not be coaching Denver. Derius Swinton II handled his game-day responsibilities, and the special team's units, all phases, played absolutely great.
Let's start with the huge fourth-down fake punt play that happened. A.J. Cole delivered a dart to Divine Deablo to not only convert the play but also gain a chunk of yards.
Cole notches his first career completion and logs the first conversion on a fake punt pass by a #Raiders punter since 2011 – (Shane Lechler, 35-yard TD pass vs. CLE, 10/16/11). 34-yard completion was also the longest by a punter in the NFL since Pat O'Donnell completed a 38-yard pass to Benny Cunningham for the Bears on October 9, 2017.
Of course, it didn't stop there for Cole, who had some big-time punts in the game, too, including one that pinned the Broncos down inside the one-yard line.
P AJ Cole punts it 42 yards to the DEN 1-yard line. Cole has now notched his 51st career game with multiple punts downed inside the 20-yard line, the second most in the NFL since 2019. His 51 games are also tied for the sixth most in the NFL since 2000 among players in their first six seasons.
We have already talked a ton about Dylan Laube and the job he did when his number was called. He fumbled on his first carry of his career in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been inactive since. He just waited his turn, and when his number was called, he returned a kickoff 59 yards.
And the kicking game can not be understated, either, as Carlson was money.
K Daniel Carlson connects on a 34-yard field goal, capping off an 11-play, 54-yard Raiders scoring drive. Carlson has made 14 straight field goals, the third-longest active streak in the NFL, behind only Zane Gonzalez (20) and Jake Bates (16). K Daniel Carlson connects on a 34-yard field goal, capping off a 7-play, 54-yard Raiders scoring drive. Carlson makes his 15th straight field goal and is now 189-for-214 (88.3%) on field goals in his career.
The Raiders' special teams play was awesome in all facets, and to make it even better, they didn't have their special teams coordinator. The Raiders will play the Kansas City Chiefs next before facing three NFC South teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints.
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The Raiders will have a plan.
