Natalie: You can try to hide from the tape, but you can’t escape it. The Raiders are sitting at 3-4, third in the AFC West, but that 35-21 loss to the Rams on Sunday night left a stain that’s going to take more than just hype to wash off. We’re breaking down exactly where it went wrong, and why Coach Klint Kubiak is sticking with Kirk Cousins against the Jets.
Scott: It wasn’t just one bad play, Natalie. It was a cascade of situational football failures. From the two-point conversion stands to the offensive line giving up pressure, we’re watching every snap. Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network. I’m Scott.
Natalie: And I’m Natalie. Before we dive into the film room, let’s do a quick check-in with our community. If you’re enjoying these deep-dive film reviews and daily analysis, please consider supporting us via the link in the episode description. Your contributions keep this show free and daily, helping us bring you the kind of detailed breakdowns you love without ads getting in the way. Thank you for being part of the squad.
Scott: Appreciate that. So today, we’re looking at three things: first, the offensive tape showing why Kirk Cousins’ efficiency plummeted; second, the defensive breakdown where Maxx Crosby and Tonka Hemingway were isolated; and third, what Ashton Jeanty’s receiving usage tells us about the future of this offense.
Natalle: Wait, Scott, did you say Ashton Jeanty? I thought he was just the runner. Okay, let’s get into it. Segment One: The Offense. Kirk Cousins finished 26-of-44 for 295 yards and two touchdowns. On paper, that looks decent. But the context? Brutal.
Scott: Right. You remember our prediction before this game? We said Cousins would throw zero interceptions and lead them to a 24-21 win. Well, the score was wrong, but the interception issue was right there too—well, actually Stafford threw one, Cousins didn’t throw an INT, but he failed twice on two-point conversions. That’s the real story here.
Natalie: Two points! That kills any momentum. Let’s talk about the passing game. Tre Tucker had five receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown. He was clearly the safety valve. But when you look at the tape, why did Cousins struggle to find consistency outside of Tucker?
Scott: It’s leverage and protection. The Rams’ secondary, even without Trent McDuffie out, played tight coverage. Cousins was forcing throws into windows that weren’t open. Look at the scoring drive. He hit Tre Tucker on a 37-yard pass, sure, but then they tried to go for two with a pass play that got stuffed. Then later, he hit Ashton Jeanty on a 15-yarder, only to fail again on the two-point attempt.
Natalie: So the execution on those special teams units—the two-point conversions themselves—was poor, or was it the play-calling?
Scott: Both. Play-calling put them in predictable spots, and execution faltered. But let’s look at the run game. Scott Washington Jr. only had six carries for 27 yards. That’s not enough to keep the defense honest. Without a credible threat on the ground, Cousins was putting too much weight on his shoulders early in downs.
Natalie: And we know Washington Jr. was dealing with injuries coming into this week. Does that excuse the lack of production from the backfield overall? What about Roman Hemby or Dylan Laube?
Scott: It doesn’t excuse it, but it explains it. When your starting running back is limited, you have to adjust personnel groupings. The Raiders didn’t seem to adjust enough. They stayed in standard sets, and the Rams’ front seven, led by Braden Fiske who recorded a sack, ate up the gaps. You need more movement, maybe some jet sweeps or quick slants to Ashton Jeanty to get him in space.
Natalie: Speaking of Jeanty, last week we talked about how he might see increased usage in the passing game to exploit mismatches. Did that happen?
Scott: It happened, but minimally. He caught one pass for 15 yards. That’s a start, but it’s not the volume we discussed. If Cousins is going to remain the starter against the Jets, as Klint Kubiak announced, he needs to utilize Jeanty more effectively. Mismatches against linebackers in the flat are gold, and they only scratched the surface.
Natalie: Okay, so the offense had flashes—Tucker was huge—but the inability to convert in high-leverage moments is concerning. Let’s shift gears. Segment Two: Defense. The Rams won 35-21. Kyren Williams ran for 99 yards on 16 carries. That’s nearly six yards per carry. How did the Raiders' front four handle him?
Scott: They didn’t. Period. The gap discipline was non-existent. Williams found holes everywhere. Now, Tonka Hemingway recorded a sack, which is great, but sacks don’t matter if you’re giving up 6.2 yards per carry on average. The defensive line couldn’t penetrate the backfield consistently enough to disrupt Matthew Stafford’s timing.
Natalie: Stafford only threw for 195 yards, but he was incredibly efficient: 23-of-29, three touchdowns, one interception. And Puka Nacua had eight catches for 68 yards and a score. How did the secondary get burned so easily despite low yardage totals?
Scott: Efficiency over volume. Stafford was picking apart zones. The Raiders’ secondary, featuring Taron Johnson, struggled with leverage on the outside routes. Nacua was finding soft spots in the zone coverage. And don’t forget Davis Allen—he caught two touchdowns from Stafford. One for three yards, one for five. Those are red-zone failures.
Natalie: Red zone defense is critical. When you give up touchdowns instead of field goals, the game slips away. Who was responsible for covering Allen?
Scott: It was a mix of man coverage breakdowns and missed tackles. Allen is a tough receiver. Once he got the ball, there wasn’t anyone around him to make a stop. Quay Walker had 12 total tackles, which shows he was all over the field, but he couldn’t be everywhere at once. The support behind him was lacking.
Natalie: Quay Walker was definitely the bright spot statistically. But with players like Nate Landman out and Keyron Crawford on IR, the depth chart took a hit. Did that impact the tackling numbers?
Scott: Absolutely. Landman is a leader and a tackler. His absence forced younger guys into bigger roles. Nakobe Dean was also on the field, but the combination of injuries to the linebacker corps and the secondary made it hard to maintain physicality. The Rams exploited that with Kyren Williams’ physical running style.
Natalie: So, while Hemingway got the sack, the overall defensive performance was below standard. What’s the fix heading into New York?
Scott: Simplification. Stop trying to be clever. Play fundamental gap control. Force Stafford to throw deep, where he’s less accurate, rather than letting him pick apart the short middle. And tackle. Just tackle. It sounds basic, but 12 tackles for Walker means he had to fill a lot of voids alone.
Natalie: Fundamentals win games. Or lose them. Let’s move to Segment Three. Deep Dive. We’ve talked about Cousins, Tucker, and the defense. But I want to focus on one player who represents the future of this team: Ashton Jeanty. Last week we predicted increased passing usage. This week, he had one catch for 15 yards. Is that progress, or is it still too little?
Scott: It’s progress, but it’s baby steps. Jeanty is a unique talent. His ability to create separation after the catch is elite. Against the Rams, he wasn’t targeted heavily because the offensive scheme wasn’t built to feature him as a primary receiving threat yet. But that 15-yard gain showed his potential.
Natalie: But think about the implications. If Cousins is the starter against the Jets, and the run game is hampered by Washington Jr.’s injury, where does the offense go? Do they lean harder on Jeanty?
Scott: They have to. The Jets have a strong defensive front. If you can’t run between the tackles effectively, you need playmakers in space. Jeanty provides that. But it requires Cousins to trust him. We saw that trust in the two-point attempts, even if they failed. That’s a sign that the coaching staff is trying to integrate him.
Natalie: And what about Brock Bowers? He’s the premier tight end in this league. Why didn’t he feature more in the passing attack against the Rams?
Scott: Good question. Bowers isn’t listed in the leaders for receiving yards, which suggests he wasn’t the primary target. That’s unusual. Usually, Cousins looks to Bowers in the middle. Maybe the Rams double-teamed him, or maybe Cousins felt more comfortable with Tucker. Either way, Bowers should have been involved more. His presence opens up the entire offense.
Natalie: So, the takeaway for Jeanty is that he’s a key piece, but the system needs to adapt to maximize his skills. And for Cousins, it’s about decision-making in critical moments. Two-point conversions are mental mistakes as much as execution errors.
Scott: Exactly. Mental toughness. Cousins has experience, but this team is young. They’re learning how to close out games. The loss to the Rams was a learning moment, albeit a painful one. Now they face the Jets. A tricky matchup. The Jets’ defense is tough, especially against the run.
Natalie: Which brings us to the big question. Klint Kubiak said Cousins will start. But headlines are swirling about a possible quarterback change. Ryan McFadden broke down the possibility. Are we seeing a trend here?
Scott: Kubiak is a coach. He sticks with the veteran until he can’t. Cousins is the starter. But if they lose to the Jets, the pressure mounts. Fernando Mendoza is on the roster. He’s young, energetic, but untested. For now, Cousins is the guy. But the margin for error is razor-thin.
Natalie: That’s the reality. One loss, and the narrative shifts. But for now, it’s Cousins vs. the Jets. We’ll be there to break it all down. Before we go, thanks for listening to today’s film review. We covered Cousins’ struggles, the defensive lapses, and Ashton Jeanty’s emerging role.
Scott: If you enjoyed this deep dive, please subscribe, rate, and review the show. It helps us reach more Raiders fans. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear this analysis.
Natalie: We predict the Raiders will tighten up defensively and find a way to win with Cousins, but it won’t be pretty. Keep your heads up, Silver and Black. We’ll see you next time.