The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) who threw for four touchdowns celebrates with teammate Rob Gronkowski(87) against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sun Oct 25th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
Sunday afternoon the Las Vegas Raiders took on the Tampa Buccaneers after a bye week. The hope was that the team could return to the field healthy and that seemed to be the case. The health of the team paled in comparison to their lack of responsibility when it comes to protocol regarding measures being taken by the NFL in the Covid-19 fight. The Raiders desperately needed Trent Brown and Johnathan Abram this week but it was not to be. Not due to injury but due to not wearing their tracking devices in the facility. Brown tested positive for the virus and was sent into quarantine as was Abram and several players who had been seen around him causing six players to be placed into quarantine and not practicing all week. They were not able to play in this weeks game a huge loss for Las Vegas.
The Raiders have had numerous violations of the Covid-19 protocols resulting in almost half a million in fines. It all started with Head Coach Jon Gruden not wearing his mask at all times on the sidelines costing him and the team $350K. If that didn’t send a message of the seriousness of the virus I don’t know why this team doesn’t seem to get it. Derek Carr had attended a charity event held by Darren Waller ( without mask at times) which cost Waller $30K and other players on hand $15K each. The Raiders may even lose some draft picks as a result of their reckless behavior. The loss of Brown and Abrams will hurt the team’s defense as will the loss of 4 offensive linesman.
The Raiders started this game scoring early in the first quarter when Derek Carr found Nelson Agholor for twenty yards and the first touchdown of the game and the lead 7-0. The Bucs had a bit of a slow defensive start but that did come to an end as this game moved forward. Late in the first quarter Tom Brady took matters into his own hands when he rushed for a one yard touchdown to tie up this game.
Las Vegas was able to move the ball as the second quarter got underway. Their drive was stalled deep in Tampa Bay territory although they did put up three points when Daniel Carlson kicked a 42 yard field goal taking back the lead 10-7. The Bucs would answer not once but twice when Tom Brady connected with favorite target Rob Gronkowski for 5 yards and a second strike to Scotty Miller for 33 yards. The Bucs would take a 21-10 lead into the locker room. The Raiders needed to get their pass rush working and of course the loss of two of their key defensive players was starting to weigh heavily.
The Raiders first series in the third quarter saw a harassed Derek Carr; the loss of players on the offensive side of the ball also starting to glare. He was not having the time he needed to target his receivers while having to contend with a very good Tampa Bay defense. The first series in the third quarter for Tampa Bay saw a Tom Brady that continued to connect with receivers driving deep into Raider territory. The Raiders defense was able to stop Tampa Bay’s campaign making the Bucs settle for a 29 yards field goal. Las Vegas was trailing by two touchdowns 24-10 mid-way through the quarter.
The Raiders had an impressive drive late in the third quarter that started with a 44 yard pass to Nelson Agholor who started the game with the Raiders first touchdown. Carr would finish off the drive with a five yard pass to Darren Waller making this game a one possession game 24-17. The end of that drive resulted in a player ejection, number 66 Guard Gabe Jackson for unnecessary roughness on a defensive Bucs player. More bad news for the Raider offense.
Despite the defensive woes for Las Vegas they were able to hold Tampa Bay’s next series and went back on offense. Driving downfield the Raiders were in search of a tie game. They stalled on the drive but were able to kick another field goal, this one a 36 yarder still trailing 24-20.
Unable to hold the Tampa Bay offense, Brady connected with Chris Godwin for another touchdown giving the Bucs a 31-20 lead. Any hopes to win this game were squelched when Derek Carr was intercepted with seven minutes left in the game. The Bucs now had the opportunity to finish off this game, and with Tom Brady at the helm chances were very high that this would be the end of the Raiders in this contest. Minutes later Jones would punch the ball in for yet another Tampa Bay touchdown and a 38-20 lead. It was all but over for Las Vegas.
The Bucs would add insult to injury scoring yet again. Tampa Bay would break this game wide open late in the fourth quarter; Brady finding Johnson, another score 45-20 for a twenty-five point lead. No doubt the losses that the Raiders had suffered this week on offense and defense contributed greatly to this loss.
Hopefully the events of the past week in Las Vegas have had an impact on the team and moving forward they will act with responsibility; helping and not hurting their teams chances the rest of the season.
