Hook Jr.

The Raiders are off to an incredible start and I have no doubt that Klint Kubiak will have the team continuing to play great. This sequence by their game management staff very easily could have lost them the game. On 3rd and 7, Justin Herbert gets hit while throwing, and they rule it a fumble that is recovered by the Chargers and brings up 4th and a half yard. Replays showed Herbert with the ball and his arm moving forward, and Gene Steratore noted that this should be an incompletion. The broadcast correctly was very surprised by the lack of challenge. The swing from 4th and 7 vs. 4th and a half yard is enormous here. For some reason, the coach appeared to not get the message to challenge the play. Not challenging likely cost them over 5% win probability. The Raiders then call a timeout, which is inexplicable in this moment, as you should throw the challenge flag if you plan on calling a timeout anyways. To top it off, they come out of the timeout on 4th and a half yard with 12 men on the field and give up a free 1st down. This simply cannot happen, someone should see it upstairs and communicate that immediately. The penalty mistake cost them another 20% in win probability! There will be very few game management sequences all year that decrease a team's chance of winning so much. Some things to iron out going forward.