Raiders’ Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer Get Blunt Message

The Las Vegas Raiders offense has been firing on all cylinders through two NFL games to start the 2025 season. While the Silver and Black defeated the New England Patriots

in Week 1, it was a disaster in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Raiders Smith completed 24 of 43 passes for 180 yards with his three interceptions. The veteran quarterback

also couldn’t find the end zone in the challenging loss. Moreover, Las Vegas lack a running game as rookie Ashton Jeanty has to get 20 carries in a game so ar this season.

Ahead of their game against the Washington Commanders, former NFL player Robert Griffin III advised Las Vegas to exploit a weakness. In their loss to the Green Bay Packers

, Tucker Kraft went off against the Commanders’ defense, so Griffin would like to see the Raiders replicate that same game strategy.

“Honestly, this week [the Raiders] have some pretty good mismatches against this Commanders defense in the tight end room,”

Griffin said on “The Silver and Black Show.” “Last week, the Washington Commanders gave up 156 yards receiving to the Green Bay Packers’ tight ends.

“So if Brock Bowers is healthy and hopefully can get that knee brace off or be a little bit more comfortable with it on, it should be a field day for them in the middle of the field.”

Can Michael Mayer Have a Breakout Game for the Raiders?

The Raiders have two quality tight ends that they can use to exploit the middle of the field against the Commanders. While Bowers will probably play, Griffin believes that this game is also an opportunity for Michael Mayer to have a breakout game and have Geno Smith put passes to allow the tight ends to feast like the Packers did in their Week 2 win over Washington.

“I feel like Mayer’s been a little bit of the forgotten guy,“ Griffin added. “Notre Dame tight end, he’s been a really great player, and I know he’s morphed into more of a blocking role.

“But it wasn’t just Tucker Kraft who was going off against the Commanders, it was that entire room. So I think Michael Mayer can give them an added boost as they get the familiarity and the comfortability with the outside receivers and Geno back in check.”

Raiders Need Geno Smith to Bounce Back

Smith should be looking to get his tight ends more involved in the passing game against the Commanders. Nonetheless, the veteran quarterback will be looking for a bounce-back performance

of his own after a nightmare showing against the Chargers.

Rather than wanting to close this chapter and move on to Week 3, Smith told reporters postgame that he intends to learn from what went wrong in the Monday Night Football game.

“I’ve got to learn from it,“ Smith said on September 15. “You know what I mean? This game is all about learning from your experiences. This is a game—again, I’ve had similar games in the past where the ball has bounced in an unfortunate way, or decisions

haven’t [been] the best on a given play, or the best throw. That’s a part of the game.

“But you can never just say you can flush it. You’ve got to learn from it.

I’m going to be super hard on myself—extremely hard on myself—because that’s all I know. I’m going to get better this week; I’m going to find ways to get better from, and we’ll be better as a team as well.”

How Steelers game changed Byron Murphy II’s mindset

The Seattle Seahawks witnessed a changed Bryon Murphy II during their 31-17 romp of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The defensive tackle himself admitted to adapting to personal change.

The past first round NFL Draft talent has cut off the braids from last season. Now Murphy is the only NFL defensive tackle with seven pressures and seven run stops through two games.

His Pittsburgh Steelers performance handed Murphy a new perspective. Which he shared Thursday during the team's press conference.

“After that game, it just triggered in my mind that I can be that guy,” Murphy said. “It's all about my preparation and how I prepare. My game has evolved.”

How Seahawks has unleashed Byron Murphy II now

Murphy now embraces the results during the weekdays, not just awaiting the weekend to disrupt offenses.

“What gets me excited as a player is seeing the results,” Murphy said.. “Just putting in the work at practice and all that translating to the game, that's what excites me.”

He's embracing his opportunities and how to take them. But also identified where he wanted to improve the most.

Article Continues Below

ClutchQuiz

Question 1 of 4

Who scored the 'Helmet Catch' in Super Bowl XLII?

Plaxico Burress

David Tyree

Eli Manning

Victor Cruz

“Pass rushing,” Murphy mentioned. “That was the biggest thing I focused on this offseason and another area of my game that's evolved.”

Murphy learned how to win inside and outside while adding to his hand arsenal — even leaning into veterans Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams to boost himself.

The former Texas Longhorns star collected two sacks of Aaron Rodgers Sunday. Murphy applied pressure by turning to a swim move and looping around the interior protection to get to Rodgers. He then showed his deadly mix of quickness and strength to clog running lanes.

Head coach Mike Macdonald now trusts Murphy outside of the one-technique nose tackle spot. Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde allowed their defensive tackle to line up in multiple spots: Seven plays in the “A” gap, 26 inside at the “B” gap and then six plays over the tackle — according to Pro Football Focus.

Murphy's 6-foot-1, 308-pound presence handed discomfort for Rodgers and Pittsburgh. The Seahawks and Murphy are anticpated to beat the New Orleans Saints using a similar gameplan.

Sport