What We Saw: Week 15

The What We Saw team recaps all of the action from Week 15

Ben Brown
What We Saw 12 Months Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Raiders
Vikings @ Bengals
Steelers @ Colts
Broncos @ Lions
Falcons @ Panthers
Bears @ Browns
Buccaneers @ Packers
Jets @ Dolphins
Giants @ Saints
Texans @ Titans
Chiefs @ Patriots
49ers @ Cardinals
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Cowboys @ Bills
Ravens @ Jaguars

Chargers @ Raiders

Final Score: Raiders 63, Chargers 21

Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

 

Scorigami registered this scoreline as the 1083rd unique final score in NFL history. It also claimed the jobs of Chargers Head Coach Brandon Staley and General Manager Tom Telesco. The Chargers were a disgrace for long portions of this contest and were completely humiliated by a Raiders team professionally organized and ready to play. Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce was a consummate professional on the sideline as he watched young quarterback Aidan O’Connell come of age in a virtuoso performance while an inspired defense led by Maxx Crosby annihilated Easton Stick drive-after-drive.

The future of the Raiders is bright. You couldn’t say that a month ago!

 

Two Up

  • Tre Tucker – a coming out party for the third round rookie, who caught two scores and had another called back by penalty in an exciting show of route running and speed – he should see plenty of opportunity the rest of the way
  • Josh Palmer – the absence of the talented wideout has crippled the Chargers offense over the last six weeks and he showed his big play ability with a long touchdown grab – he also corralled in two more balls with terrific hands

Two Down

  • Austin Ekeler – demoted to a complementary role in the run game, Ekeler saw just five carries on the ground and was third string behind Isaiah Spiller and Joshua Kelley. Yikes!
  • Hunter Renfrow – another poor outing from the veteran, who saw just two targets and looks to be an afterthought in this offense – his days are numbered in Las Vegas

 

Los Angeles Chargers

 

Quarterback

 

Easton Stick: 23/32, 257 Yards, 3 TDs, INT, 3 Sacks | 2 Carries, 11 Yards, 2 Fumbles (Lost)

 

A sugar-coated pile of crap is still a pile of crap. Easton Stick made his NFL debut and found himself down 42-0 by half time. On a personal note, the second half was worse for Stick as he was sacked and coughed up a fumble that was returned for a touchdown before throwing a pick six on the very next drive. Stick looked completely out of his depth against a marauding defensive line that fed on his slow read progressions and tendency to hold onto the ball in the pocket with zero awareness of what was happening around him. Stick’s only encouraging contribution was a nice throw to release Palmer for a 79-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

 

Running Back

 

Isaiah Spiller: 16 Carries, 50 Yards

 

Out of the blue second-year back Isaiah Spiller led the backfield with 16 touches as Ekeler was benched after being largely ineffective in the first quarter. Spiller has seen very little action since coming into the league and hasn’t even been used in a developmental roll so far. Spiller looked pedestrian and showed little to get excited about.

 

Joshua Kelley: 5 Carries, 22 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 6 Yards, Fumble (Lost)

 

Relegated to backup service Joshua Kelley coughed up the ball on his second carry of the game on his own 29-yard line. That resulted in the Raiders scoring a touchdown and going up 21-0 late in the first quarter.

 

Austin Ekeler: 5 Carries, 9 Yards | 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 29 Yards

 

A miserable night for Ekeler, who lost the lead role for carries before being used in passing downs only and padding his statistics with a couple of run and catch plays. With Staley now gone as the man in charge, Ekeler will likely be given the starting role back for the remainder of the year.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Josh Palmer: 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 113 Yards, TD

 

Palmer’s second 100+ yard game of the season provided the only promise in an otherwise miserable night for the Chargers and their offense. Palmer was head-and-shoulders above any other receiver on the field for the visiting team and his ability to win-out in contested situations is his main quality.

 

Gerald Everett: 8 Targets, 5 Receptions, 41 Yards

 

Despite being peppered short and often, tight end Gerald Everett could not provide the spark the offense needed. He also had a couple of drops that he really should have hauled in. Everett has seen a steady target share and his volume is fantasy relevant. His production from that volume is not, however. He only has three scores on the season and hasn’t tallied over 47 yards in a contest this season.

 

Quentin Johnston: 3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards, TD

 

First round rookie receiver Quentin Johnston has struggled mightily in his debut season and the absence of Keenan Allen hasn’t seen him garner more touches through the air. This was Johnston’s 10th game of the season with just three targets or less. He is lost in this offense and the coaching staff are clearly not coaching him up to standard. He did haul in his third score of the year after making some space for himself in the end zone after the initial play broke down.

 

Jalen Guyton: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards

Stone Smartt: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 15 Yards

Alex Erickson: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 13 Yards, TD

Derius Davis: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, -2 Yards, Fumble (Lost)

 

Las Vegas Raiders

 

Quarterback

 

Aidan O’Connell: 20/34, 248 Yards, 4 TDs, Sack

 

On the cusp of losing his role as the starter going into the game, rookie quarterback O’Connell came out of it with a night to remember as he threw for four touchdowns and masterminded his team’s demolition of the hapless Chargers defense with a series of elite throws and smart game management. Given a more aggressive license to throw the ball, O’Connell took his chance and connected with six different receivers. He ensured his primary targets Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers both left with touchdowns and also showed good chemistry with rookies Tucker and Michael Mayer. His best throw of the night was a beautifully flighted ball on third down that Meyers laid out for to notch the score. He showed enough here to be given the run through over the rest of the campaign.

 

Running Back

 

Zamir White: 17 Carries, 69 Yards, TD | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 16 Yards

 

Josh Jacobs was ruled out of this game late and White was considered the “next man up” as he led the backs with 17 touches and another four targets out of the backfield. White enjoyed a solid night and ran in for his first NFL touchdown to start the rout, driving the ball in from a yard out. He hardly featured in 2022 and had not tallied more than five touches in a game before this workload.

 

Ameer Abdullah: 6 Carries, 32 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards

Brandon Bolden: 2 Carries, 25 Yards, TD

 

As he did on occasion in New England, Brandon Bolden popped up to make a play and take it to the house. As the game started to get out of hand in the first half, Bolden took a carry off the back of a turnover and housed it. It was probably the moment that sealed Staley’s fate just prior to halftime.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Davante Adams: 12 Targets, 8 Receptions, 101 Yards, TD

 

As was promised when Davante Adams was brought to Las Vegas, the star receiver led the team in receptions, receiving yards and targets. It just hasn’t been that way for large parts of this season. Rolling back the years, Adams was superb with his route running and ability to create separation. O’Connell picked on the Chargers corners and despite Asante Samuel Jr. having some luck early in the game against Adams, the former Green Bay superstar won duels for the rest of the contest. Adams hauled in a touchdown pass not from O’Connell but fellow teammate Jakobi Meyers on a nice play design to cap off a stellar night.

 

Tre Tucker: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 59 Yards, 2 TDs | 1 Carry, -2 Yards

 

A breakout performance form the talented third round receiver who has shown flashes in previous games but has been all bark and no bite prior to this performance. Tucker will likely takeover the third receiver role from Renfrow and his impact in this game was a clear bright spot for Pierce, who is not afraid of rolling with the hot hands in his receiving corps. Tucker showed his elite speed and ability to run routes on both his scores.

 

Michael Mayer: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 39 Yards, TD

 

The air blows hot and cold for rookie tight end Michael Mayer, who caught just one pass against Minnesota the week before, answering back with a four catch night and a touchdown grab. Mayer rolled out to the right after pretending to block to find himself all alone ten yards out, walking the ball in for a score in the second quarter. It was only the rookie’s second touchdown of the season, a disappointing fantasy output for a much-hyped tight end coming out of college.

 

Jakobi Meyers: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 32 Yards, TD | 2/2, 12 Yards, TD

 

The man who can do everything pretty much lived up to that statement as he threw for a score and caught a touchdown to cap an impressive night. Meyers has been far from consistent with production in Las Vegas so far but it is clear he is an integral part of this offense.

 

Hunter Renfrow: 2 Targets

Austin Hooper: 1 Target

Series Navigation
Introduction
Chargers @ Raiders
Vikings @ Bengals
Steelers @ Colts
Broncos @ Lions
Falcons @ Panthers
Bears @ Browns
Buccaneers @ Packers
Jets @ Dolphins
Giants @ Saints
Texans @ Titans
Chiefs @ Patriots
49ers @ Cardinals
Commanders @ Rams
Cowboys @ Bills
Ravens @ Jaguars

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