HYATTSVILLE, Md. >> The Raiders engaged in a peaceful protest Sunday night and then took pacifism to an extreme in a 27-10 loss to Washington at FedEx Field.
Most Raiders players, arms interlocked and faces deadly serious, did not stand for the national anthem in a form of protest against racial oppression that took different forms throughout the NFL.
Once the game began, the Raiders were beaten in every conceivable way in a game that was far more lopsided than the scoreboard indicated. Washington outgained the Raiders 472 yards to 128.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins held a decided edge against Derek Carr, completing 25 of 30 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Carr (18 of 31, 118 yards) and the Raiders offense never approached the level of explosiveness or efficiency it had through the first two games.
The Raiders were soundly beaten on both sides of the line of scrimmage, including a rare instance where their offensive line was overpowered by an opposing defensive front.
It delighted a home crowd of 77,123 which at times broke out in a “USA, USA” chant aimed at Raiders pregame anthem protesters, although Washington had some players taking a knee as well.
Cousins, playing under the franchise tag for just under $24 million, looked the part in the first half of the quarterback could pass Matthew Stafford and Carr in terms of a higher salary.
During the week, cornerback David Amerson, a former teammate in Washington, said it was up to the Raiders to prevent Cousins from developing a rhythm because he was capable of throwing for “outrageous” yards.
In the first half, Cousins was 15 of 16 for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Key moments
Cowser’s recoveries >> For the second straight week, a Marquette King punt was muffed — this time by Jamison Crowder — and the Raiders took advantage.
It happened with the Raiders behind 21-0, James Cowser jumped on the gift, and Carr hit Jared Cook for a 20-yard touchdown pass on second-and-13 with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
Given that the score came after a missed Washington field goal attempt, it provided provided some momentum to a team desperately in need of it.
Cowser got another one early in the fourth quarter, forced by Cory James agains Samaje Perine. But Carr threw incomplete three times — nearly getting intercepted twice, and Giorgio Taveccho came in for a chip-shot field goal to make it 24-10.
Carr gets picked >> After coach Jack Del Rio won the toss and took the ball for the third straight time and Marshawn Lynch ran for a short gain, Carr attacked downfield.
Unfortunately, Washington rookie safety Montae Nicholson, playing a perfect centerfield, broke on the ball perfectly and intercepted the pass. It was Carr’s first interception in 110 passes dating back to last Dec. 18 against the San Diego Chargers, that one by Trovon Reed.
Washington responded by 67 yards for a touchdown, the last 22 yards coming on a swing pass to Chris Thompson without a Raiders defender anywhere in the area.
Carr gets picked II >> On third-and-1 from the Washington 48 and the Raiders hoping to awake from their offensive slumber, Carr took another downfield shot and paid the price.
This throw went toward Seth Roberts into double coverage, with cornerback Kendall Fuller coming down with the interception.
Cousins then drove Washington for its second touchcdown, finishing a 72-drive with an 18-yard strike on third down to former 49er Vernon Davis at the post.
In 16 starts last season, Carr never had two interceptions in a game. His 17.5 passer rating (5 of 10, 32 yards, two interceptions) was the lowest of his career for a first half.
Back-to-back sacks >> On the Raiders second possession, with Washington leading 7-0, Carr the pocket collapsed around him as Jonathan Allen and Junior Gallette recorded a 3-yard sack with guard Kelechi Osemele unable to provide enough protection.
Then on the next play, strong side linebacker Preston Smith got past Donald Penn, who allowed only one sack all of last season. The Raiders, clearly out of sorts, punted after the three-and-out.
Carr was also sacked on back to back plays in Week 1 against Tennessee.
In the second half, after Washington had taken a 21-0 lead, Carr was dropped two times in a span of three plays, the first time by Ryan Kerrigan against Marshall Newhouse, then on a safety blitz by D.J. Swearinger.
On the second sack, Carr was surprised by the shotgun snap from Rodney Hudson and nearly lost it on a fumble.
Impact players
Sean Smith >> Out last week with a neck injury, Smith was back in action and the Raiders brought back a training camp experiment that had the cornerback covering tight ends.
Washington was without its top tight end, Jordan Reed, inactive with a chest injury. Davis, however turned back the clock to his best days as a 49er, with a 26-yard reception on Washington’s first scoring drive and the 18-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Both catches came against Davis.
Davis caught all five passes that went his way in the first half for 58 yards.
David Amerson >> Going back to the team that drafted him then put him on waivers three years into his career, Amerson was looking forward to atoning for giving up a pair of touchdowns last week against the Jets.
Instead, Amerson did more chasing than play-making, with the lowlight a 52-yard pass to Josh Doctson from Cousins on the first possession of the second half, giving Washington a 21-0 lead.
Chris Thompson >> As difficult as it was for the Raiders to cover Davis, they had even more trouble with Thompson out of the backfield. He caught six passes for 150 yards, scoring from 22 yards out and setting up a field goal after a 74-yard catch, failing to score only because Amerson hustled downfield to catch him.
Extra points
• Wide receivers Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper each had dropped passes in the first half. He left in the second half after taking a big hit to the chest and did not return.
• The Raiders failed on their first 11 third-down opportunities but did convert a late fourth-down.