With today's 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Silver and Black now slip under .500, currently holding onto a 2-3 record.
Quarterback EJ Manuel who stepped into the void left by Derek Carr, and played admirably, but the Oakland Raiders were unable to respond after falling behind early, eventually falling to the Ravens by 10 points.
Here are four, quick observations from the Week 5 clash at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
1. Manuel filled in admirably for Derek Carr
With Derek Carr on the bench for the matchup with the Ravens, all eyes were understandably on EJ Manuel, but we must give credit where credit is due.
Manuel not only commanded the Raiders offense confidently throughout the afternoon, but he also made the most of his opportunities, making a handful of really nice plays during his time under center.
Arguably his most impressive play of the afternoon came in the second quarter when he was able to evade pressure from the Baltimore defense, recover, and then toss a 41-yard dart to wide receiver Derek Carr.
Honestly though, Manuel put together a pretty good day at the office, making his first start since Week 17 of 2016.
The Raiders didn't win on Sunday, but it wasn't because of the play of No. 3.
2. We saw some life from the run game
It's no secret that the Raiders struggled to find any type of success on the ground the past two weeks, but that situation seemed to be slightly remedied, at least for the day, Sunday against the Ravens.
With running back DeAndre Washington inactive for the Week 5 matchup, Offensive Coordinator Todd Dowing leaned heavily on the tandem of Marshawn Lynch and Jalen Richard, and the duo didn't disappoint, carrying the ball 21 times, totaling 80 yards.
With EJ Manuel under center, a good day on the ground would effectively take some pressure off No. 3, and Lynch and Richard were able to do just that.
Jamize Olawale also got in the mix, carrying the ball twice for 13 total yards.
We've seen evidence time and time again that the Raiders offense is at its best when it's balanced in its attack, and while the Raiders weren't able to tally a win, it was good to see the run game show some life.
3. Mike Wallace had himself a ball game
The speedy wide receiver was a thorn in the side of the Raiders defense all day, the first half in particular.
When all was said and done, Wallace had totaled three catches for 133, but his two catches for 106 yards in the first half really were the ones that really paid big dividends for the Ravens offense.
Through the first quarter of the season, the Raiders defense struggled limiting explosive plays, and the Ravens were able to exploit that facet of the game once again Sunday.
Also, allowing north of 360 total yards allowed certainly makes things a little harder too.
4. Giorgio Tavecchio stayed perfect
If you're looking for a bright spot from today's game, look no further than the play of kicker Giorgio Tavecchio.
Tavecchio connected on three kicks today, keeping him a perfect eight of eight on field goals, as well as perfect on extra point attempts.
While the Silver and Black ultimately fell to the Ravens, the play of Tavecchio Sunday – and all season really – is something to hang your hat on.
Considering how far the Italian national has come, and his twisting, winding journey to the NFL, it's been a lot of fun to see him shine in the first five games of 2017.
