Mike Washington Jr. averages 5.0 yards per carry this season, and he got just one rushing attempt in the Las Vegas Raiders’ disappointing loss to the New England Patriots Sunday.
Coach Klint Kubiak put that decision on himself after the game at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders finished with 18 carries for 38 yards, while Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza combined for 36 pass attempts. Washington had a 5-yard carry and a 5-yard catch.
"Well, playing from behind the whole game and there was plenty of opportunities to get him in later in the game, but it was a passing game. Early in the game especially I needed to stay with the run. Okay? Didn't need to abandon it so fast. So that's on me,"Kubiak said when asked about Washington's lone carry.
Klint Kubiak says the deficit didn’t have to change the plan
Brock Bowers’ 13-yard touchdown tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter, and Las Vegas trailed by only seven points until Hunter Henry scored with 24 seconds left in the first half.
"Well, I think just overall today, we were playing from behind all day, so it became a passing game, and it didn't need to be that way. I abandoned the run game too early and didn't give it a chance to get going," Kubiak said.
Ashton Jeanty played through a foot and ankle injury
Ashton Jeanty entered the game questionable with foot and ankle injuries and finished with a season-low 27 yards on 10 carries. Dylan Laube scored his first NFL touchdown on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.
"Yeah, I think everyone is beat up. That's the league. And yes, Ashton is beat up, and that's a testament to how tough he is, that he's out there today playing for his teammates," Kubiak said.
Kirk Cousins felt the Raiders became one-dimensional
The Raiders had a chance to swing momentum in the second quarter after a takeaway at the New England 38. Dre’Mont Jones dropped Tre Tucker for an 11-yard loss on an end around, and Matt Gay’s field goal try his the left upright moments later.
The Patriots sacked Cousins three times. Mendoza’s NFL debut ended on a fourth-down scramble a yard short of a first down.
"Well, they did a great job in their blitz package. When you pass it that many times, there's going to be those. But overall, I think they did a great job of pressuring us today," Kubiak said.
"Yeah, I think anytime you're one-dimensional, it probably does make it a little bit easier on a defense. I think also playing from a lead, they can probably afford to be flexible with what they're doing because they've created a bit of a cushion. But you certainly want that run-pass threat at all times if you can have it," Cousins said when asked about playing without a run threat.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Klint Kubiak says he gave up on the Raiders' run game too soon
