Raiders Defense Shines Despite 3-0 Loss to Minnesota

The Las Vegas Raiders are now on a three-game losing streak and are 5-8 this season. Interim Coach Antonio Pierce has a 2-3 record since taking over as the Silver and Black's head coach.

Despite losing to the Minnesota Vikings, the Silver and Black defense stepped up entirely in a Week 14 defensive battle in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The defensive unit finished with five sacks, including two by defensive end Maxx Crosby, who has a career-high 13.5 sacks this season, and is one of five players in Raiders history to reach 50.0-plus career sacks.

Crosby is also the 31st defensive player in NFL history to reach 50.0-plus sacks in his first five seasons. He also finished the game with 10 combined tackles, with seven of them being solos.

The Raiders' secondary unit also stepped up with multiple pass deflections from Tre'Von Moehrig, Marcus Epps, and Amik Robertson.

Moehrig finished the game with five combined tackles, Robertson had four combined tackles, and Epps made six combined tackles.

Rookie first-round draft pick Tyree Wilson also had a great game against the Vikings, finishing with three solo tackles, one assist and one sack. He has 1.5 sacks and 10 solo tackles this season.

Linebacker Robert Spillane also shined on the Silver and Black defense against the Vikings, finishing with 10 tackles and one sack.

The Raiders enter a short week of preparation for their Week 15 AFC West game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football. These teams met earlier this season, when the Chargers claimed a 24-17 victory at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

The Chargers (5-8) and are coming off a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos, and are the 12th-seeded team in the AFC and third in the AFC West.

The Raiders are the 13th seed in the AFC and are last in the division.

The Silver and Black will turn around quickly and host their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, on Thursday, December 14, at 8:15 p.m. EST/5:15 p.m. PST.

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