Raiders stumble out of Buffalo in turnover-filled 34-14 loss
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — One running back muffed two kickoff returns and lost a punt-return fumble. Another had the ball jarred loose on a reception, it being caught mid-air and returned for a touchdown. The first of two interceptions led to favorable field position and three points. The second iced the result.
Last year, it was the Raiders who forced such takeaways.
This, in no sense, is last year.
The Raiders have lost more games before November than they did throughout the 2016 regular season. Their latest on Sunday featured them again dropping multiple chances at an interception while failing to protect the ball on a rainy afternoon, ultimately succumbing 34-14 to the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field.
The Raiders were 12-4 last year.
They are now 3-5, having lost five of the past six games.
Turnovers are a culprit. Oakland has scored an NFL-low 10 points off five opponent turnovers all season. On Sunday alone, Buffalo scored 13 points off the Raiders’ four giveaways. Meanwhile, Oakland forced no turnovers for itself and now owns a minus-six turnover differential this year. It was plus-8 at this same, eight-game juncture in 2016.
“We were minus-four today,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “That clearly was the biggest factor of the game. Not many people win with minus-four.”
Indeed, NFL teams are 0-6 this season when compiling a negative-four turnover margin. Since 2000, teams own a 10-260 record in such games. The Raiders are in large company there.
They have no peers with their interception drought.
They entered Sunday as the only defense in NFL history without an interception in its first seven games of a season. Make it eight. Cornerback Dexter McDonald and safety Shalom Luani each had a chance at a pick Sunday, getting their hands on a Tyrod Taylor pass. Neither converted.
As for the four giveaways, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington contributed. The usually steady running backs saw an increased role with Marshawn Lynch serving a one-game suspension for running onto the field and making contact with an official on Oct. 19 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fullback Jamize Olawale also played, but a second-quarter hamstring injury forced his exit.
Collectively, the three backs had five fumbles.
Two were lost and led to 10 points.
Prior to Sunday, Richard hadn’t fumbled this season. He muffed two rain-soaked squibbed kickoffs, as the Bills (5-2) worked to avoid returner Cordarrelle Patterson. The Raiders recovered both. More costly, he fumbled a punt after the defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half. The Bills recovered at Oakland’s 14-yard line and were held to a 35-yard field goal.
Richard declined a reporter’s interview request following the loss.
He did post later on Twitter.
“I was poo butt today,” he wrote.
Washington’s fumble came on a strong defensive play. Cornerback Leonard Johnson used his helmet to pop the ball on a short reception over the middle. Linebacker Matt Milano caught the fumble and returned it for a 40-yard score with 32 seconds left in the first half.
Olawale had a fumble on the Raiders’ opening drive but recovered it.
“Rain’s not an excuse,” Washington said of the Raiders’ ball-security issues. “Rain, snow, whatever it is, it’s not an excuse. … I’ve got to hold onto the ball.”
The Raiders didn’t dislodge a football from a Bills player until about three minutes remained in regulation. Running back LeSean McCoy bursted up the middle for a 48-yard run, as Bruce Irvin chased from behind. The linebacker finally caught up and punched out the ball three seconds after McCoy crossed into the end zone.
He was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
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Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.
