Mario Edwards Jr. the silver lining in Oakland Raiders loss

September 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Jr. Edwards (97) during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

We all expected better than what we saw in the Oakland Raider’s 30-14 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. But to keep it 100, the Vikings are just a better team that look like they’re going to the NFC Championship game. The Raiders look promising but aren’t quite on the level of Conference Championship game.

However, rookie defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. was the silver lining for the Raiders in that game. The 2015 2nd-round pick is turning out to be a steal and since replacing injured Justin Tuck, he showed it most Sunday. The Florida State-product filled up the defensive stat sheet with a team-leading 11 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and two quarterback hits.

Edwards was disruptive all afternoon, showing why G.M. Reggie McKenzie selected him in the second round. Edwards has made a conscious effort to put the work in at practice and in the film room. So his growth on the field the past month is only a surprise to those outside the Raiders building.

Defensive tackle Dan Williams told Eddie Paskal of Raiders.com, “I just think he’s becoming everything that the front office and the coaches thought he could be. Every day Mario is just trying to get better. I definitely appreciate it, especially playing alongside him, but it’s good to see him grow each week and the more he can do the more he’s helping us.”

Score another one for McKenzie from the 2015 NFL Draft, his second great draft in a row. After a slow start, with the help of injured veteran Justin Tuck, it looks like Edwards is figuring it out. And with the talent Edwards has, if and when he fully figures it out, the Raiders have a star defensive lineman.