Don’t indict the Raiders over their listless performance against the Jets Sunday in New Jersey.
Doing so would only be an indictment of your unjustifiably increased expectations.
Yes, Sunday was an incredible opportunity for the Raiders — a chance for them to accelerate a well-established timeline and to put the AFC West lead on the table for next Sunday’s contest with the Chiefs — but it was made evident by halftime that Jon Gruden’s team was ready for prime time.
Or, rather, that they were not ready for a 10 a.m. game.
Body clocks are real, and to west coast teams, they can be as nasty as the weather at New Jersey Sunday.