Why did Chargers’ Brandon Staley name timeout, Raiders’ Wealthy Bisaccia name for FG at finish of OT?

Because the clock ticked down in extra time of Sunday night time’s Raiders-Chargers recreation, followers started to suppose that the unattainable may occur.

Earlier than the sport began, there was loads of speak about a state of affairs through which, if different video games fell in line, the 2 AFC West rivals might face off in a “Sunday Evening Soccer” recreation solely needing a tie for each groups to advance.

Although the 2 sides did not kneel down the whole lot of the sport, it appeared there could be a tie anyway after Las Vegas operating again Josh Jacobs rushed for 7 yards close to midfield and either side allowed the clock to wind down beneath a minute remaining. Till, that’s, Chargers coach Brandon Staley known as a timeout.

After the timeout, Jacobs rushed 10 yards for a primary all the way down to the LA 29. Las Vegas then ended NFL followers’ hopes for a tie as kicker Daniel Carlson drilled a 47-yard subject purpose with no time remaining. The Raiders moved on to the playoffs by way of a 35-32 win and Los Angeles went dwelling to finish the 2021 common season.

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Staley stated after the sport that his mindset was to make Carlson’s kick so long as doable and that he wished to convey out the right defensive personnel to cease a run by the Raiders.

“We felt like they have been going to run the ball, so we wished to get our greatest 11 personnel run protection in, make that substitution in order that we might get a play the place we have been deep within the subject purpose (vary),” Staley stated.

Staley added that he did not consider the Raiders had modified their mindset after the timeout, noting that Las Vegas ran the ball earlier than and after it.

“We wished to guarantee that we bought our run protection in there,” Staley stated. “And we clearly did not execute properly sufficient, however we wished to get our premium one backline protection in right here and that is what we did.”

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Raiders interim head coach Wealthy Bisaccia stated his group had a dialog on the sideline about the potential of a tie as time was winding down. He stated that when Los Angeles didn’t name a timeout after Jacobs’ 7-yard run, he thought “they have been in all probability pondering the identical factor.”

“Then we had the large run by way of there. And after we bought the large run and bought us in what we thought was advantageous subject purpose place for us, we have been going to take the sector purpose and attempt to win,” Bisaccia stated. “However we have been definitely speaking about it on the sideline. We wished to see in the event that they have been going to name a timeout or not on that run. They did not, so we thought they’re pondering the identical factor. After which we popped a run in there and gave us an opportunity to kick the sector purpose and win it. So we have been definitely speaking about it.”

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The Chargers had tied the sport 32-32 with 4:35 left in extra time as Dustin Hopkins drilled a 41-yard subject purpose.

Las Vegas began the following drive with a fast 17-yard strike from quarterback Derek Carr to Bryan Edwards to the Raiders’ 42. Jacobs rushed up the center for 7 yards, and the clock ticked down. The subsequent play, Carr threw a brief go to Jalen Richard for a 5-yard loss, and the clock saved ticking.

Carr then discovered Zay Jones on the Chargers’ 45 for a achieve of 11, shifting the chains and citing the two-minute warning. Jacobs rushed for a lack of 1 on the primary play after that after which for one more achieve of seven to the Chargers’ 39. It was then, with 38 seconds left, that Staley known as a timeout, his first of two within the extra time interval.

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After the timeout, Jacobs gave Las Vegas a primary down and ensured that not solely would the group be in subject purpose vary for Carlson but in addition that it managed the clock with just one timeout remaining for Los Angeles.

Carr sparked controversy after the sport by saying the timeout modified Las Vegas’ technique.

“It undoubtedly did, clearly, however we knew, it doesn’t matter what, we did not desire a tie. We wished to win the soccer recreation,” Carr advised NBC Sports activities’ Michele Tafoya. “Clearly, when you tie, you are in, all these issues, however my mindset, all day, I even was texting with Aaron Rodgers this morning. My mindset was to guarantee that we have been the one group shifting on after this.”

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As some identified, it regarded as if the Raiders have been going to run the ball earlier than the Chargers known as timeout. Even a brief run up the center would have put Carlson in subject purpose vary. His profession lengthy is from 56 and he entered the sport having made 12 of 15 kicks from 50 yards or farther.

Now, the Chargers should watch the rival Raiders tackle the Bengals within the first spherical of the playoffs whereas Los Angeles waits for subsequent season.