The Raiders’ defense has been taking its lumps this season, but one thing is undeniable: they are absolutely wrecking backfields. Through eight weeks, the Las Vegas unit ranks ninth in the entire NFL for plays ending in a quarterback hit or a sack, racking up an impressive 50 such plays. That’s 18 sacks and 32 more hits, putting them ahead of Cleveland, Green Bay, and New England. Only eight defenses have been better, which is a wild stat given all the chatter about their coverage and run defense.
Nobody’s Getting a Free Pass Here
What’s really making this pass rush a nightmare for offenses is that there isn’t one guy carrying the load. Nope, this is a full-on committee effort! A whopping twelve different Raiders have at least half a sack this season, and get this, no one player has more than three. Malcolm Koonce, Kwity Paye, and Maxx Crosby, the primary edge rushers, combine for nine of those 18 sacks. But it doesn’t stop there. Linebackers Quay Walker (2 sacks) and Nakobe Dean (1.5 sacks) have added another three and a half. Even the defensive backs are getting in on the action, with safety Jeremy Chinn and cornerback Eric Stokes each recording a sack. That’s five and a half sacks coming from linebackers and defensive backs, telling you the pressure can erupt from anywhere on the field. And don’t forget the big guys inside: defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway and Tim Keenan III each have a sack, while Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu, and Foley Fatukasi each have half a sack. When you can’t just slide protection to one side and call it a day, that’s a headache for opposing offensive coordinators.
The AFC West Picture Is Wild Right Now
Look, the Raiders might be getting home, but one division rival is still doing it even better. The Denver Broncos are absolutely feasting, leading the entire league with 74 plays ending in a hit or a sack. Their 51 quarterback hits alone are more than the Raiders’ combined total of 50. Plus, Denver’s 23 sacks are five more than what Vegas has. The rest of the AFC West? Far, far quieter. The Los Angeles Chargers are tied for 23rd with just 36 such plays, and the Kansas City Chiefs are tied for 26th with a measly 34. The Chiefs only have nine sacks, tying them with Miami and the New York Giants for the league low! Can you believe that? For years, K.C. was the standard bearer in this division, and right now, the Raiders are getting to the QB way more often.
Turning Hits into Havoc
The pressure is obviously there, but the real upside comes when those hits turn into sacks. Right now, the Raiders are converting 18 of their 50 plays into sacks, which is a little over a third. Compare that to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who lead the league with 26 sacks and convert about half of their 51 plays. The Raiders are on pace for around 38 sacks this season, which is only just barely ahead of the 37 they finished with last season. Imagine if they could just turn a handful more of those 32 quarterback hits into full-blown sacks? That would push this group from a solid, surprising unit to downright scary. This defense needs something positive to really sink its teeth into, and better sack conversion would be it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply