Scott Turner Debuts As Interim Offensive Coordinator
The Raiders finished with 328 total net yards of offense, including 268 passing yards and 60 rushing yards in Scott Turner's first game as interim offensive coordinator. The Raiders' 328 yards were the team's third most in a game this season and their 268 passing yards the second most in a game in 2024.
"We fought to the end and I think we gave it 100 percent effort," Jackson Powers-Johnson said postgame. "Sometimes that isn't enough. But I think the operation was good."
One of the positive developments from Sunday's performance was the offense's success on third down. The Raiders converted on 8-of-14 third downs for a single-game season-high 57.1 conversion rate. It was the first time this season that the Silver and Black converted better than 50.0 percent of their third down opportunities.
"I thought it was more efficient," Pierce said of the offensive operation. "I thought the passing game was more crisp. Got the ball out, quarterback hit his back foot and the ball got let go. On completions, did a good job getting the ball to our guys underneath. Obviously, we want to take shots down the field. Those opportunities didn't present themselves. Made some good, clean throws, and obviously up until that last interception, took care of the football."
While the offense showed progress, their 1-of-3 mark in the red zone is an area to improve on ahead of Week 12.
Career Day for Bowers
Tight end Brock Bowers looked anything but a rookie on Sunday, recording single-game career highs in receptions (13) and receiving yards (126). Bowers also added his third career touchdown reception. He became the first Raiders rookie with at least 10 receptions and 100 yards in a game. The only other NFL rookie to do that this season is Malik Nabers.
"We're trying to do everything we can to feature our best player," Pierce said in his postgame media availability. "He's playing like that. He's tough, he's physical. He doesn't want to come out of the game, staying in the run game. He's doing everything we're asking him to do as a rookie."
It was Bowers' second career game with 10+ receptions, joining Jeremy Shockey (two in 2002) as the second tight end in NFL history with multiple games of 10+ receptions in his rookie season.
Bowers' 13 receptions were the most by a rookie tight end in a single game since at least 1960.
Defensive Miscues Prove Costly
Penalties, miscommunications, missed opportunities – they all contributed to a performance the Raiders defense would like to have back. Apart from a drive that ended with the conclusion of the first half, the Dolphins scored on all six of their possessions. The Raiders' inability to get off the field on critical-down situations played a major role in Miami's offensive success. The Dolphins were 8-of-12 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down.
From Weeks 1-7, the Raiders ranked second in the NFL in opponent's third-down conversion percentage (28.9). Since Week 8, the Raiders have faced a three-game gauntlet of highly-successful offenses and have allowed opponents to convert on 65.1 percent of their third down attempts (32nd). Pierce knows it needs to improve in order for the team to get back in the win column.
"Well, really, we had three third-down penalties," the head coach said when asked what the Dolphins did offensively to keep the Raiders off balance. "So, it was really the Raiders beating the Raiders on that one, right? So, third-and-20, we get a holding call, uncalled for. Believe we had an offsides penalty, then we had a holding penalty late in the game. Technique, fundamentals, things that we're coaching up we can't do in critical moments like that. Situational football. That's a four-point swing there because they scored a touchdown instead of a field goal."
Numbers to Know
Tight end Michael Mayer was activated last week from the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list and appeared in his first game since Week 3. The second-year pro played 34 offensive snaps (52 percent) and caught one of his three targets for five yards. Mayer also had a nine-yard reception on a play negated by a Dolphins penalty.
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers recorded four receptions for 28 yards and one carry for 20 yards. Meyers has now surpassed 4,000 career receiving yards and is one of just 17 undrafted players in NFL history to reach 4,000 receiving yards in his first six seasons.
Defensive end Tyree Wilson notched his second sack of the season and forced a Tua Tagovailoa fumble on Miami's first possession of the game. He now has a sack in two of the Raiders' last three games. Wilson's 5.5 career sacks in 2023 and 2024 have all come in or after Week 7.
Running back Alexander Mattison totaled 19 rushing yards and a season-high 50 receiving yards on three receptions. His 245 receiving yards in 2024 are a single-season career-high.
Former Dolphins Adam Butler and John Jenkins each tallied two tackles for loss. It was the fourth career game with multiple tackles for loss for Butler and the first such game for Jenkins. Butler's sack of Tagovailoa was his first of the season.
View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 11 matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.