QB-OC Controversy: Who’s Holding Back Bowers?

The Raiders showed flashes of a competent offense on Sunday against the Chiefs, but as has been the case in just about every game this year, the offense seemed to stall once they moved past the scripted plays at the start of the game.

Rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who leads the NFL in receptions, was a big part of the offense in the first quarter, but disappeared as the game went on and ended the game with just 5 receptions for 58 yards.

Bowers’ lack of involvement against the Chiefs has been a top conversation piece this week and Raiders’ flagship radio host ‘JT the Brick’ said on Monday that he believes the team let Bowers down.

“We had a game with Brock Bowers got five targets and only five receptions,” JT said in his weekday Raider Nation Radio show.

“We forgot about Brock Bowers. How do we do that?” he continued. “How did we let Brock Bowers down and not get him the football the entire game? What could have possibly went through the play caller’s head? What possibly could have went through any coach’s head to not continue to go back to Brock Bowers or Jacoby Myers when they got off and they were playing decent?”

Some have suggested the Chiefs made adjustments to slow down Bowers in the second half, but at least one insider covering the team doesn’t think that was the case.

According to Las Vegas Review-Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore, there were plenty of opportunities to get the ball to Bowers in the second half on Sunday.

“Looking back at the film, there are plenty of opportunities for Brock Bowers,” Bonsignore said as a guest on JT’s show on Tuesday.

“I know there’s been a lot of finger pointing at… Luke Getsy for not targeting Brock Bowers, but we don’t know what the play call is on those plays where Gardner [Minshew] looks elsewhere or gets rid of the ball quickly because he’s feeling pressure. Because if you watch the tape, you see that there’s designs for Brock Bowers to get open.”