General football truth: If you combine rudderless offense with abominable special teams, your fans aren’t going to go home happy. The Oakland Raiders proved as much in a troubling 22-14 loss to the San Diego Chargerson “Monday Night Football.”
Though we don’t know him personally, Travis Goethel quite possibly had the worst night of his life … on national television, no less. Stepping in for injured long snapper Jon Condo, who left the game with a head injury, Goethel fired two ground ball snaps on the infield dirt portion of the field, leading to supreme Chargers field position. An on-target snap precipitated a blocked punt. Yikes.
The Raiders‘ passing game completely was inept. Carson Palmer rarely looked downfield, allowing the Chargers‘ defense to stack the line of scrimmage without fear of consequence. Palmer was without Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford, but he did nothing to alleviate fears he’s not the guy in Oakland.
