The initial full season of the Antonio Pierce era began poorly on Sunday, with the Las Vegas Raiders falling to the Los Angeles Chargers 22-10 in Los Angeles.
The Raiders’ defense performed well for much of the game, keeping Justin Herbert and the revamped Chargers offense mostly contained. However, in the second half, Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins exploded, achieving several significant gains. Pierce expressed his disappointment post-game.
“When the game was on the line, we’ve got to fit up the run correctly,” Pierce stated. “Guys have got to get off blocks. Second-level players have got to fit up. Hats off to them. They stayed consistent with their game. They didn’t beat themselves.”
The Chargers’ running game proved decisive, with Dobbins accumulating 135 yards and one touchdown on just 10 carries. Although both teams struggled in the passing game, Los Angeles managed to find some consistency on the ground, enabling them to maintain drives.
Where the Raiders must improve after Week 1 loss
The Raiders had opportunities to defeat the Chargers in Week 1, but several shortcomings and a significant disparity in the running game in the second half allowed Los Angeles to claim victory in Jim Harbaugh’s debut. So, what were the Raiders’ main issues, and where do they need to focus on improvement moving forward?
The most disappointing element for the team was the front seven, which had shown promise at times last season under Patrick Graham. In addition to permitting Dobbins’ highly efficient performance, the Raiders’ pass rush managed to sack Justin Herbert only once. While Herbert has established himself as an elite pocket mover and sack dodger, the defensive front still needs to be disruptive, especially against a Chargers offensive line that can be exploited.
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