Raiders takeaways: What we learned from 20-6 loss to Chargers

BOX SCORE

OAKLAND -- The Raiders' defense played as well as it had in some time. The ground game also got up and running.

There were positive moments in Sunday’s AFC West clash with the L.A. Chargers at the Coliseum, but a predictably negative result.

The Silver and Black were beaten 20-6 by a far better team that eventually made enough plays to put this game to bed.

The Raiders suffered their fifth consecutive loss and fourth in a row to the rival Chargers, holding on to next year’s No. 1 overall draft pick position.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

Offense stuck in the mud

The Raiders found the end zone late in the third quarter of a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8, but they've now gone nine consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown.

Coach Jon Gruden’s offense has been stagnant for weeks, with an awful passing attack stymied by poor pass protection and questionable play from the skill positions.

They couldn’t get anything going against the Chargers, and wasted a solid defensive effort. They were down two scores heading into the fourth quarter, though the offense had plenty of opportunities to secure a lead.

Their best chance came from fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Gruden called for a jet sweep to Dwayne Harris, who wasn’t able to turn upfield and score. That was a tone setter for the Raiders, who moved the ball well in spurts but struggled to score points.

Derek Carr was sacked four times on the day, and he has been sacked at least three times in four of the last five games. The downfield passing game is virtually non-existent, and the Raiders don’t have any dynamic receiving threats outside tight end Jared Cook. That makes life taking yards in chunks, or moving the ball consistently.

While the defense has been heavily criticized in recent weeks (and deservedly so), the offense has struggled mightily and regressed over the last month-plus. That unit has failed to score a touchdown in three of its last four games.

In the ultimate concession, Carr threw the ball away on fourth down despite being down 14 points late with roughly three minutes left. They Raiders cried uncle there, unable to find the end zone with a unit that struggles doing anything right.

Big plays still haunt Raiders' defense

There was a lot to like about how the Raiders played defense against the Chargers. Coverage was solid throughout, and the pass rush at times was able to generate some heat.

As usual, however, the Raiders have a propensity for giving up big plays. Philip Rivers threw a short pass to Melvin Gordon, who juked cornerback Gareon Conley and made safety Reggie Nelson whiff on a 66-yard catch and run for a Chargers touchdown. And, just like that, the Raiders were down two scores with an offense that was mightily struggling.

Big plays have hurt the Raiders all season, especially with runs and giving up long plays from short passes.

That was the case again Sunday. The Raiders will have a tough time winning games with teams able to score quickly and easily.

Townsend turns it around

Johnny Townsend has been heavily criticized on this website during a rough start to his rookie season. Space must be given then to a solid showing by the Florida product.

Townsend flashed surprising speed on a fake punt, where he ran left for 42 yards. That seemed to get his adrenaline up, and he followed that with his best day as an NFL punter. He averaged 54 yards on three punts, and put one inside the Chargers’ 10-yard line.

The Raiders have shown patience with their punter, and he rewarded them for it Sunday.