LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Cowboys promised to honor the memory of late teammate Marshawn kneeland with how hard they played Monday night. They did so with a convincing 33-16 win against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes to four different pass catchers — George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson and Ryan Flournoy – and a defense that incorporated newcomers Quinnen Williams and Ashton Jeanty in the Raiders’ offensive scheme. Despite the Cowboys’ defense ranking 27th in the league in yards per carry (4.8 yards) entering Week 11 (NFL.com), Jeanty received only two carries for 10 yards in the first half. He had an 11-yard carry but saw no further handoffs for the remainder of the quarter. This limited usage raises questions about the Raiders’ offensive strategy and their confidence in utilizing their young running back.
## Play-Action Effectiveness, But With a Cost
The Raiders substantially increased their use of play-action passes in the first half, utilizing it on 40.6% of quarterback Aidan O’Connell’s drop-backs. While O’Connell completed 7-of-12 passes for 124 yards on play-action throws, he also threw an interception. ESPN stats & Info. Prior to Week 11,the Raiders had only employed play-action on 26.6% of O’Connell’s dropbacks, indicating a deliberate shift in offensive approach. The increased usage showed some success in generating yardage, but the interception highlights the risk associated with relying heavily on this tactic.## Kyu Blu Kelly’s Struggles and Potential Change at Cornerback
The Raiders opted to start cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly following his two-interception performance against the Denver broncos in Week 10. However, Kelly struggled significantly against the Cowboys’ receiving corps. He allowed six receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown on six targets across 27 coverage snaps. ESPN Stats & Info. Given the team’s 2-8 record, the Raiders may consider giving more playing time to rookie third-round pick Darien Porter to evaluate his potential for the remainder of the season.
## Looking Ahead
The Raiders (2-8) will face the Cleveland Browns (7-3) in Week 12 on November 23rd at 4:05 p.m. ET. (NFL.com Schedule). This matchup presents another notable challenge for the Raiders as they attempt to turn their season around.