The Las Vegas Raiders suffered anothe disappointing loss to the Los Angeles Rams 35-21 on Sunday. The Raiders trailed 28-6 at halftime but came out energized in the second half. They cut the Rams' lead to 28-18 but couldn't get any closer.
Las Vegas had a few solid players, with quarterback Kirk Cousins throwing for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Ashton Jeanty caught six passes for 61 yards. On defense, Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean each added 12 tackles, but wide receiver Tre Tucker earned Player of the Game honors again.
Raiders Week 7 Player of the Game -- WR Tre Tucker
Tucker finished with five receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown; with 20.6 yards per catch, he was one of the few bright spots for the Raiders' struggling offense.
Cousins faced constant pressure, the running game
stalled, and Las Vegas couldn't finish drives. However, Tucker helped shift momentum in the fourth quarter with the explosive play the Raiders desperately needed. His 37-yard touchdown reception from Cousins gave the offense life and made the game interesting for a bit. The speedy receiver also caught a 41-yard reception, breaking through a few defenders to help set up a touchdown.
In the future, the Raiders need more ways to get Tucker involved. His speed can stretch the defense and help tight end Brock Bowers on underneath throws. It also drags safety out of the box and opens up running lanes for the Raiders' running backs.
Las Vegas needs to bring the five-year veteran into the game plan earlier, not wait until the fourth quarter. Waiting that long will help the offense be more consistent in the passing game. When he has the ball, he can make explosive plays, so it's time to incorporate him into the game plan more often. Tucker has 29 catches for a team-leading 474 yards and four touchdowns.
After losing the 4th game in a row, Las Vegas has plenty of problems to address, like stopping the run and protecting the quarterback. Tucker's performance over the last two weeks could be something the offense builds around as they prepare for the rest of the season.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders player of the game vs Rams is WR Tre Tucker
