HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Given the lack of explosive offenses the Raiders have faced, how much credit should be given to what suddenly has become a shut-down defense is debatable.
Las Vegas’ defense, though, is at least getting the job done — something that wasn’t the case last season when it was among the NFL’s worst.
It’s the defense, in fact, that sealed victories six days apart.
Amik Robertson intercepted a pass in the end zone on Oct.
9 against Green Bay, and on Sunday, Maxx Crosby and Bilal Nichols combined on a sack for a safety against New England.
We talk about being the reason we win, and that’s our goal as a defense,” Crosby said.
“We’re playing better complementary football for two weeks, so you’ve got to keep that momentum going.”
Those game-saving plays weren’t one-offs. The Packers and Patriots combined to score 30 points against Las Vegas, and each team was held to fewer than 300 yards of offense.
Raiders Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce said he saw “maximum effort” from the pass rush on Sunday.
“Me and Maxx [Crosby] joke about it: me trying to max his effort [and] vice versa,” Pierce told reporters on Monday.
“But our defense and our team — especially our D-line and guys who were blitzing — did a hell of a job yesterday of just being relentless.
And we talked about that: straining to finish through the play.
Crosby has 9.5 sacks this season and is tied with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt for second in the NFL in the category.
Moehrig and Butler added their second sacks of the season, while Spillane, Nichols, and Wilson now have 1.5. Koonce’s sack was his first of the season.
