Overview
- In Week 4 the Raiders were beaten by a Chiefs fake punt when punter Matt Araiza tucked the ball and ran for a first down after the Raiders dropped several players from the line.
- Former Colts coach Chuck Pagano and Pat McAfee criticized the Raiders’ alignment on the Pat McAfee Show, calling the look unusual and questioning the decision to leave only five players near the line.
- Raiders special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis rebutted that criticism and said the look is used around the league while pointing to a 2015 Broncos 83-yard punt-return touchdown against Pagano’s Colts as precedent.
- DeCamillis also accepted responsibility for the Week 4 result, saying the call was a misplay and that he got "way too greedy," and reporters noted the Raiders’ defense limited the immediate damage.
- There have been no reports of staff changes or sanctions and coverage stresses the broader context that the Raiders’ special teams have otherwise performed well this season, which leaves adjustments rather than personnel moves as the most likely next step.