Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest-rated from Week 1 vs Chargers

A day after the Raiders fell short in their Week 1 matchup with the Chargers, it’s clear the team has a lot of work to do before contending for a playoff spot this season.

But it’s just one game, and despite the 22-10 score, there were a few positives. Pro Football Focus watched the gameday film before revealing their top-performing Raiders, and it’s no surprise most of them play defense.

Linebacker Robert Spillane earned the highest mark, and three defenders joined him, including the Raiders’ big-money free agent, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

Both Wilkins and defensive end Maxx Crosby appear on the list despite performing poorly against Chargers rookie left tackle Joe Alt in pass-rush situations.

Defensive tackle John Jenkins got off to a strong start to follow up on a strong season last year, and despite issues blocking against the Chargers, guard Dylan Parham also graded well on Sunday.

Once the Raiders score more than 10 points in a game, we’ll see more offensive players on this list. But for now, PFF’s grades confirm what we know: the defense is solid and the Raiders offense has to find its way before this season goes off the rails.