Raiders offense strives for balance without Davante Adams

The Raiders proved they can find ways to win without star wide receiver Davante Adams.

In their 20-16 victory over the Browns on Sunday, the offense churned out a season-high 152 yards rushing, led by Alexander Mattison’s 60 yards on five carries. Zamir White added 50 yards on 17 carries, and receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner each scored a rushing touchdown.

Seven players were targeted in the passing game, with receiver Jakobi Meyers and Tucker each catching five passes.

Without Adams’ dominating presence, the touches were more spread out and organic. The entire operation felt as smooth as it had in years.

“We got guys that are primed for a role, and they’re excited to get the ball,” quarterback Gardner Minshew said.

Adams told the Raiders this week he wants to be traded, and they are eager to accommodate him. He’s listed on the injury report with a hamstring injury and won’t play Sunday when the Raiders (2-2) meet the Broncos (2-2) in Denver.

A deal could be completed by next week, sources indicated.

What will the offense look like?

The bottom line is the Raiders must adjust to life and draw up game plans without one of the NFL’s best receivers.

Their blueprint against the Browns was a good start. Get multiple players involved, utilize their speed and athletic ability, and prioritize favorable matchups over force-feeding the ball to one player.

“Anytime you can make them defend everybody, that’s going to help you,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. “We talk about it all the time, finding guys that can do a bunch of different things, and the more of those guys you have, the more the defense has to be accountable for it.”

That doesn’t mean the Raiders have to look the same every game. Whereas they attacked the Browns on the perimeter, especially in the run game, and tried to beat them on the edge and asked Minshew to simply manage the game, the offense might look entirely different against the Broncos.

The Raiders’ goal with Adams was to get the ball to as many playmakers as possible, but there was also an understanding that he was a priority target. That didn’t necessarily come with a specific number of touches, but it was understood that he needed to be a featured part of the game plan.

That’s no longer the case. It would be foolish to suggest the Raiders are better off for it, but they should have a more balanced look.

That was the case against the Browns. And it worked.

“Everybody stepped up and played a role,” Minshew said.

Moving forward

The challenge now is to improve on Sunday’s showing.

One way to do so is to make sure rookie tight end Brock Bowers and Meyers are involved. For all the good the Raiders did offensively Sunday, one negative was how they bogged down late in the game. Their final four possessions before taking a knee to end the game produced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and three punts.

That allowed the Browns to hang around and almost win the game on their final drive.

Meyers, who led Patriots wide receivers in receptions his final three seasons in New England before signing with the Raiders as a free agent in 2023, becomes the defacto No. 1 receiver. He said he’s eager to play a larger role, and Minshew said he must do a better job of getting him the ball.

“I’ve played in big moments,” Meyers said. “I’ve had to pull a lot of weight before.”

Bowers had two catches for 19 yards on only three targets against the Browns. He’s the team’s most dynamic playmaker.

“We’ve got a ton of guys that need to get the ball more,” said Minshew, who was 14 of 24 for 130 yards against the Browns.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.