Chiefs Draw Strong Message From Raiders’ Pete Carroll
The Las Vegas Raiders snapped their four-game losing streak with a 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans on October 12 at Allegiant Stadium. Moreover, this victory over arguably the worst team in the NFL came at the right time, considering their opponent in Week 7 is the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the Chiefs aren’t the Chiefs of old, they are still the Chiefs. As a result, it was important for the Silver and Black to head into this game riding positive momentum.
Despite the Raiders‘ offense being more conservative and leaning on the running game, they did have bright spots running the ball with Ashton Jeanty and Michael Mayer, who returned from his concussion,
Ahead of the critical game against the Chiefs as they look to climb back to .500, head coach Pete Carroll spoke about the upcoming clash and the importance of going into the contest off a win.
“It’s always really valuable,” Carroll told reporters on October 13. “I mean, yeah, it’s positive and it feels good and all that. It happens to be Kansas City that’s next, you know, and so we’ll do everything we can to prepare and come off this game clear-minded and really drilled into the challenge
“It’s a tremendous program that Andy’s been running for a long time, and we’re going to have to play really well to have a chance, but if we prepare well, we’ll have a chance, and that’s all we could ask for.”
Pete Carroll Praises Raiders Defense
The Chiefs are 3-3 and not the force they used to be, but if the Raiders want to have a puncher’s chance at securing a win, their defense will need to replicate their Week 6 performance
“We have a winning group there,” Carroll added. “We have
“We’re so much closer to being on the other end of it than it has appeared. That’s why this game is important to us — to get this win and at home and all the rest of it. It is important as we take our next step forward. Hopefully, we can capitalize on it.”
Maxx Crosby Was All Over for the Raiders
Furthermore, Raiders star Maxx Crosby was one of the players who recorded two sacks against the young quarterback. After the win on October 12, the veteran spoke with the media to discuss the entire defensive line’s performance.
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” Crosby told reporters. “You know the standard we set for ourselves in that room is top tier. Love those guys, man. We have a ton of young guys and guys proving themselves, with a ton of energy. It’s a blessing being able to go to work with them every day.”
Mina Kimes Doesn’t Hold Back on Seahawks After Beating Jaguars
The Seattle Seahawks‘ defense had a bounce-back performance in the 20-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6. After giving up 38 points in the shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, the Seahawks’ defense responded with an impressive performance.
Furthermore, the group made life difficult for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Seattle defense sacked Lawrence seven times in the game as they wouldn’t allow a repeat of Week 5, where an offense did whatever they wanted.
NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t Seahawks.com) shows the Seahawks pressured Lawrence on 25 of his 50 dropbacks, marking the highest rate of pressure he has faced this season. Seattle’s defense sacked him seven times—already surpassing his total sacks over the first five games (6)—and added 17 quarterback hits.
On the October 13 edition of “NFL Live,” ESPN NFL analyst Mina Kimes gave the Seahawks’ defense their flowers for how they performed against the Jaguars, which was something she didn’t expect to start the game.
“Early on there were a couple busted coverages,” Kimes said. “I’m thinking this is going to be another shootout like the Tampa game. And then the Seahawks defensive line said, ‘Nah.’ This was a feeding frenzy at the line of scrimmage. Seven sacks, 17 quarterback hits, 25 pressures. Going back and watching all the sacks.”
Mina Kimes Talks Seahawks Coach Mike Macdonald
Moreover, Kimes spotlighted the defensive play calling from head coach Mike Macdonald and how he never allowed Lawrence to get comfortable with the constant pressure that Seattle was generating.
“It really is amazing to watch Mike Macdonald,” Kimes added. “He’s a mad scientist at work with some of the overloads. He was using the defensive linemen like chessmen, the games they were
“Leonard Williams is the best defensive lineman in football that people don’t talk about. He was borderline unblockable in this game. He dominates week after week, but he is a truly special player and part of a truly special defensive line.”
Seahawks Defense Came Up Big Late
Nonetheless, while the Seahawks had an impressive performance, Macdonald noted that the team’s ability to shut the door on the Jaguars after giving up a touchdown to make the scoreline 20-12 was just as outstanding.
“That’s been an emphasis for us,” Macdonald said of the defense’s finish (h/t Seahawks.com). “We weren’t shying away from it, and our guys were awesome. I think you could sense it on the sideline that they wanted the opportunity to go out there and play, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.
“It’s not like—there’s no secret play calls that you hide on your play sheet until the fourth quarter then all of a sudden you just start waving the magic wand. We’re executing our defense
“But I think the mentality was the driving force behind how we finished the game out, and that starts with our leaders on defense, our coaches—AD (defensive coordinator Aden Durde) did a tremendous job all week getting our guys ready to go. It was a fun group to be around as the fourth quarter
