As the Silver and Black go back to the drawing board following their 43-6 loss to the Falcons, discipline will be something Coach Gruden and staff address moving forward.
"I apologize to the Raider Nation and compliment the Atlanta Falcons," said Jon Gruden. "They played a hell of a football game, and we did not."
During the Las Vegas Raiders' second road loss this season, this talented Raiders offense came up short, scoring six points in their lowest output of the season. But it remained the penalties that accounted for one of the bigger focal points of the game. The Silver and Black accumulated 141 yards in flags with several coming on momentum-shifting plays such as Younghoe Koo's missed kick and a Nick Kwiatkoski interception that was called back.
"We've had a couple of games where we have been penalized," Gruden added. "Roughing the passer, roughing the kicker, we had some holding calls, illegal hands to the face. You fall behind in the down of distance, you give teams free shots, it's a recipe for disaster and that's what you saw today."
As the Raiders recover from the blowout loss, they still have a lot to play for moving forward, and they're still very active in the playoff race for an AFC wild card spot. And next up on deck is the New York Jets, who wide receiver Hunter Renfrow acknowledged threw a wrench in the Raiders' season last year. The Jets fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-3, dropping to 0-11 on the season.
"We have a chance to go out there and fight and really have that opportunity to go get better next week," said Renfrow, who finished the game with 73 yards on nine receptions. "And I think it's a good opportunity to go into [New York], they kind of derailed our season last year, and so what an opportunity for us to be able to go there and go get some redemption, per se."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 12 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Gabe Jackson (66), center Rodney Hudson (61), quarterback Derek Carr (4) and tackle Denzelle Good (71) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) and linebacker Cory Littleton (42) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50), defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90), linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) and cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (23) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) and defensive end Carl Nassib (94) during the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
