Ashton Jeanty finally had a breakout game for the Las Vegas Raiders, but it’s tainted a bit due to his team losing. Despite rushing for 138 yards and scoring three total touchdowns, the Raiders lost 25-24 to the Chicago Bears.
While it’s hard to find many silver linings amid a 1-3 start to the season, the team should feel good about the fact that Jeanty looks like the real deal. Questions about how good he is started to creep in after he had a lackluster three-game stretch to start his career.
Since Jeanty played at Boise State, many started to speculate that he only had so much success in college due to the fact that he played at a smaller school. Even if he doesn’t develop into an All-Pro running back, he at least showed that he can be an above-average starter.
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby has formed a close relationship with Jeanty in their brief time as teammates, and he called everybody who doubted the rookie after just three games.
“He looked awesome,” Crosby said of Jeanty after the game. “Everybody has their opinions about (expletive) in September. Now, they’re gonna jump on the bandwagon. … It happens every year. He’s an incredible player. He’s gonna keep getting better. I love the way he works.”
Crosby Calls Jeanty An ‘Animal’
Jeanty is further proof that it’s difficult for a running back to have success when the offensive line is playing poorly. The Raiders’ offensive line had their best game in Week 4, so it makes sense that Jeanty had his best game.
Once he was able to get into the open field, it quickly became clear what makes him a dynamic player. Crosby never had a doubt that Jeanty would eventually put together a big game.
“He shows it every day,” Crosby said. “Even his numbers leading up to this game – he has more yards after contact than total yards. I don’t even know how that’s possible. He’s an animal.”
Pete Carroll Addresses Loss
The Raiders are a team that wants to run the ball, so the fact that they ran for 240 yards and still lost is a huge blow. A major reason for the loss was Geno Smith’s three interceptions.
It’s going to be difficult for any team to win when they lose the turnover battle. Head coach Pete Carroll was clearly disappointed by the loss, and specifically, Smith’s turnovers.
“Those are huge plays in the first half, third down opportunities, third down conversions, and everything on both plays was the same thing, and then when we fell for it and screwed it up,” Carroll told reporters after the game. “You can’t expect to turn the ball over like that and win. It doesn’t happen, but we overcame it because the defense was so spectacular in the first half making those stops. They were great, and it gave us a chance. The score could have been ridiculous after the first quarter, but it wasn’t, and so we learn. We grow, and we have to do better.”
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