Treydan Stukes provides silver lining in Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 9 blowout loss to San Francisco 49ers

After giving up 30 or more points six times in a row, the Las Vegas Raiders' defense found a glimmer of hope in rookie safety Treydan Stukes' performance during their Week 9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Stukes had a standout game, earning PFF's fifth-highest coverage grade (85.8) among safeties. He made a crucial interception and recorded an impressive 19-yard defensive stop, despite being assigned to cover strong-side tight end Kyle Juszczyk.

One of the key highlights of Stukes' game was his coverage against the run. When San Francisco lined up in a 22 personnel formation with Juszczyk as a strong-side tight end, Stukes was tasked with covering Kittle on the strong side of the formation. Despite the mismatch, Stukes successfully redirected to take on Williams' block, resetting the line of scrimmage and forcing McCaffrey to cut upfield. While he didn't make the tackle, Stukes' play led to a short gain for the 49ers.

In the passing game, Stukes also made significant contributions. During a second-and-20 situation, the Raiders lined up in a two-high look before rolling a safety down into the curl-to-flat area and running Cover 3 post-snap. Stukes displayed situational awareness by staying deep in his area, which made it difficult for Brock Purdy to throw the ball over his head. When Purdy threw a quick out route to the slot receiver, Stukes rallied to the football and made a solid open-field tackle, limiting the yards after the catch.

Another notable play came when Stukes lined up as a deep safety in man coverage against tight end Kyle Kittle. Kittle chip-blocked and released into a flat route, but Stues shifted his eyes to the backfield and saw a crossing route from the other side of the field. By breaking on the throw, Stukes made a crucial tackle just short of the sticks, putting the offense in a fourth-and-short situation.

Overall, Treydan Stukes' performance was a positive highlight amidst a disappointing loss for the Raiders. His ability to cover a mismatch and make key defensive stops showcased his growing impact as a key player for the team.