Silver Minings: Gus Bradley hire pays early dividends

The primary goals of the Las Vegas Raiders’ defense under new coordinator Gus Bradley was to increase sacks and turnover totals.

One game into the 2021 season so far, so good in both areas. According to the Associated Press, Monday night’s wild 33-27 overtime home win over the Baltimore Ravens marked only the second time in 49 games in Jon Gruden’s return as head coach that the team had, at least, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

One of the reasons why the Las Vegas defense was strong was the play of Crosby. He had 13 pressures the most of any pass-rusher in Week 1 in the NFL.

The Las Vegas defense wasn’t perfect against the Ravens. But if it can continue the trend of getting sacks and creating turnovers (the Raiders’ offense scored touchdowns in the drives right after the turnovers), this defense will actually be a help to this team in 2021 as it was in Week 1.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Refs, Ravens missed one: Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphreys had an interception in coverage of Raiders’ tight end Darren Waller, but Humphreys didn’t notice it and the Raiders got away with a big one. Hey, that’s the breaks, Baltimore. They needed to realize it.
• Nice recap: The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a good review of the crazy Week 1 win.
• Waller targets: Waller was targeted 19 times Monday night. That is the second time a Raider weapon was targeted, 19 times. He joined former Raiders’ receiver Amari Cooper, who was 19 times in a game against Kansas City in 2017.
• Power Rankings: Where do the Raiders’ rank in Fansided’s Week 2 NFL Power Rankings? Find out here.
• Big draw: The Raiders-Ravens’ game was the highest rated Week 1 “Monday Night Football” game in eight years. It did not disappoint.