Top 5 takeaways from Raiders' Week 15 loss to Packers

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The Raiders were in the thick of another game with top competition and came out on the losing end. The Green Bay Packers foiled their fun this time, eliminating faint playoff hopes while dropping the Raiders to 2-5 at O.co Coliseum with one home game left on the slate.

Inconsistent play has produced a near even record, an appropriate mark for a team still learning to maximize its potential. The Raiders are still building, leaving plenty to learn and take away from this experience.

1) Home struggles come from stiff competition

Bad teams typically struggle on the road. That certainly happened with these Raiders, who were 1-15 on the road from 2013-14. Not so this season. The Raiders are 4-3 away from O.co Coliseum, with too many losing efforts at home. As Charles Woodson says, a huge part of it is the opposition. The Raiders have lost to the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Vikings and Packers in the East Bay, teams that carry a combined 49-21. That’s a brutal slate, though an upset or two against these teams are more likely at home than anywhere else.

[BAIR: Carr's interceptions set Raiders back early vs Packers]

2) Carr still learning

Quarterback Derek Carr plays and acts like a veteran. He isn’t. The second-year QB plays like a young man at times, making mistakes due to the exuberance of youth and the desire to make plays when they don’t exist. While Carr was frequently compared to Aaron Rodgers this week due to a similar skill set, athleticism and build, Rodgers doesn’t make costly mistakes when dynamic plays aren’t available. That’s how the Packers won Sunday in Oakland. Carr got his team in trouble some with two interceptions that became 14 points. Criticize his individual actions, but trust he’ll continue to improve with experience.

3) Not quite ready for primetime

That isn’t news. The Raiders have proven time and again that they aren’t quite ready to beat the NFL’s best teams. They’re a team on the rise and one that routinely beat cellar dwellers, but they can’t get over the hump and beat solid competition. That will take more talent, more depth and better performance under pressure. So many games have been competitive, but the Raiders haven’t emerged victorious in those tight spots.

4) Run production wanes again

Latavius Murray started fast against Green Bay, as he has done so many times before. His production waned on Sunday, as did his opportunities. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry but just 2.1 yards per carry in the fourth quarter. Much of that must be a lacking backup option to split carries. A second rusher could help Murray and the run game as a whole next year, though Murray will continue to take most every carry throughout the season. Rushing help with help Murray, who is at his best when fresh.

[RELATED: Packers WR Jones plays big role in eliminating Raiders]

5) Defense trending up

Head coach Jack Del Rio is committed to building a shutdown defense. He won’t do that this season, but his unit isn’t as malleable as it used to be. That unit played well for the second straight week, allowing just one offensive touchdown to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a potent Packers offense. The Raiders shut down the run, limited big pass plays save one – personnel confusion set up James Jones’ 30-yard touchdown catch – and, despite a 19-play second-half, field goal drive, allowed just 4-of-13 third-down conversions. This group is improving, and has done well despite being put in tough situations.

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