Great start came apart incredibly quick.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:Tyrod Taylor was very good for the first two and a half quarters but when the Raiders started their furious, lightning quick comeback he had no answers. He stopped making plays and the couldn't find his receivers as he threw for only 191 yards and completed just over 50% of his passes after a hot start.
Grade D: It's is becoming crystal clear he's not a franchise quarterback. The search continues.
LeSean McCoy had 191 total yards while battling cramps. He's the best player on this football team and he deserves better. He had 130 yards on just 17 carries for a 7.6 yard average.
Mike Gillislee had two touchdowns and a 6.1 yard average with 49 yards on eight carries.
Jerome Felton did an incredible job opening up the holes for the running backs.
Grade A: Great effort for this unit.
Sammy Watkins seemed out of sync with Taylor as it appears at least two incompletions were his fault. He also dropped a pass. He had three catches for 38 yards, two of them on the first drive.
Marquise Goodwin had a modest four catches for 35 yards.
Justin Hunter had a 22 yard reception and couldn't haul in another pass.
Brandon Tate was called for a false start penalty and had a 13 yard reception.
Grade F: I know Taylor misses open receivers but they just aren't getting open enough.
Richie Incognito was called for a holding penalty that negated a long run by Taylor on a 3rd and 14 play.
Jordan Mills did a nice job against Khalil Mack early but was beaten a lot late in the game as he forced two turnovers.
Cordy Glenn had an illegal motion penalty.
John Miller left the game with a concussion.
Grade B: For two and a half quarters they dominated. Did a solid job in run blocking and gave Taylor time to throw.
Marcell Dareus had a quiet four tackles.
Kyle Williams was called for a neutral zone infraction on 3rd and 5 to give the Raiders a first down on their opening series. He finished with a game high seven solo tackles.
Grade C: Were fired up early and dominating like everyone else but they got run over in the second half.
Jerry Hughes was called for a neutral zone infraction and was quiet the rest of the way.
Preston Brown was in on seven tackles and out of position on pass coverage.
Zach Brown was in on nine tackles.
Lorenzo Alexander had four tackles and one QB pressure.
Shaq Lawson was huge on a third and inches stop in the second quarter to force a Raiders punt. He then had terrific pursuit on an end around that blew up the play for a loss. He also broke up a screen pass with great penetration and also knocking down the pass.
Grade C: Did their job in the collapse.
Stephon Gilmore made a nice tackle for loss on Amari Cooper on an end around. Was called for a very questionalbe pass interference that put the Raiders on the edge of the red zone in the 2nd quarter instead of forcing a punt.
Kevon Seymour got the start on the outside for the injured Ronald Darby. He broke up a pass to Cooper in Buffalo territory to help thwart a 1st quarter scoring drive. He was then beaten by Cooper for a 37 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Nickell Robey-Coleman went back to his starting role in the slot since Seymour moved outside.
Corey Graham knocked down a pass on the goal line in the 2nd quarter.
James Ihedigbo got the start at strong safety. He broke up a deep fourth quarter pass to Crabtree that was almost intercepted. Was called for a personal foul for hitting the punter late in the game.
Corey White got burned for a 26 yard completion to the tight end to convert a 3rd and 9 on the Raiders second series. Then was beaten by Rivera for a 22 yard completion on 3rd and 10 in the fourth quarter.
Grade D: Was solid early and struggled late. Do you see a pattern?
Colton Schmidt shanked a 33 yard punt in the 2nd quarter to give the Raiders good starting position for the drive. He also hit a short line drive 35 yarder in the third quarter that set the Raiders up in Bills territory and had another punt for less than 40 yards.
Dan Carpenter hit his only field goal and all three extra point attempts.
Brandon Tate averaged 20 yards on four kickoff returns.
Coverage Units gave up one kickoff return for 22 yards and a 17 yard punt return.
Grade D: Not the normally stellar performance for this unit.
Rex Ryan takes a bit of a hit for communication issues late in the first half. The Bills took a delay of game penalty on a 3rd and 4 play. Luckily they converted the 3rd and 9. He then got way too conservative at the end of the half as they played to keep the score 10-6 instead of attacking for more points. The team's total collapse is on him as well.
Anthony Lynn didn't have McCoy or Watkins in the game on a critical 3rd and goal from the 3 on the Bills possession. The result of the play was a sack. Didn't do what got them the lead when the Raiders started coming back.
Dennis Thurman had no answers when they Raiders were destroying them in the second half.
Grade F: Terrible meltdown in a big spot.
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