Jack Del Rio never made it to Las Vegas with the Raiders, so that’s where he’ll play his first game as an opponent rather than the head coach of the team he cheered as a kid.
Despite being the most successful Raiders coach in nearly two decades, Del Rio was fired by owner Mark Davis in 2017, roughly nine months after the team’s proposed move from Oakland was approved by the NFL.
That means Del Rio will be on the guest’s sidelines as defensive coordinator when Washington (5-6) takes on the Raiders (6-5) on Sunday.
“I grew up there. Well, not Vegas, but I grew up right in Oakland and I’m a Raider fan, ”said Del Rio. “I know that. I grew up with it. I’ve always enjoyed playing them when I’m there and I’ve enjoyed my time as head coach. I thought we had a good, solid run while I was there. “
Del Rio’s early exit came despite being the only coach to have led the Raiders to the playoffs since the start of the 2003 season – and the fact that for the past 34 years he’s only been a coach with a track record with the franchise.
But the Raiders slipped from 12-4 in his second season in 2016 to 6-10 the following year, and Davis made the decision to fire Del Rio and bring Jon Gruden back for a second outing. Del Rio’s 25-23 record is the best of any Raiders coach since Hall of Famer Tom Flores was replaced after the 1987 season.
Gruden has revised the roster so much that only quarterback Derek Carr, third from last backer Jalen Richard and backup linebacker Marquel Lee are still raiders who play on Sunday and also play under Del Rio.
But Gruden couldn’t match Del Rio’s modest success before stepping down as a coach earlier this season after posting his offensive 2011-18 emails. The Raiders have not won a season since Del Rio’s departure.
Hoping to change that this season, they showed some positive signs last week when they beat Dallas 36:33 in overtime to stay competitive in the AFC.
“You want to think now is the time to get hot,” said Carr. “We have certainly done it the other way around in recent years. Hopefully this is when we can really take off and get hot at the right time. “
GO DEEP
The Raiders were made strong last week by Speedster DeSean Jackson who signed on to Henry Ruggs III last month after the release. After being targeted just once in his first two games, Jackson helped set the tone with a 56-yard TD catch on the opening drive, which marked his 34th career touchdown of at least 50 yards.
Jackson caught two more passes and made two pass-to-interference calls, which helped open things up for the ongoing games and shorter passes below.
“I think he can do that obviously gives us the margin we need for everyone else to do the same,” said Carr.
RUNNING RECIPE
Rivera and offensive coordinator Scott Turner decided to play the running game after the bye week so Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke could help and take some pressure off his defense. The team’s most recent win over Seattle to extend the winning streak to three included Washington running 43 times and winning the time of the possession battle 41:40-18:20
“We really got a foothold,” said Rivera. “Let’s take what we’re doing really well and make sure it takes a lot of the pressure off Taylor that it’s having.”
FROM THE EDGE
The Raiders’ defense is led by edge rushers Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue throughout the season. Crosby leads the NFL with 71 QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and Ngakoue ranks 11th with 46.
WASHINGTON INJURIES
Running back JD McKissic (concussion), safety Landon Collins (foot) and offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer (ankle) were excluded for Washington.
McKissic’s absence was expected after being sent off late Monday night in the Seattle win, but it is still a blow to the offense to have no chance to catch a pass from the backcourt. Collins’ injury came out of nowhere and takes one of defense’s biggest variables – a three-security look where Collins plays more like a linebacker – out of the equation.
JUST FOR FUN
Daniel Carlson made all five field goal attempts last week, including a 56-yard late in regulation and a 29-yard winner in overtime. Carlson has scored the league’s top six field goals in the last five minutes of full time or extra time this season, scoring 24 out of 27 in total.
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AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report
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