Del Rio hopes Raiders’ defense takes same jump as offense

Recommended Video:

The defense gave up 33 points again Sunday. But the offense scored 37 points, the most it’s scored in almost five years, after it looked awful just a week earlier. So, progress … and a win for Jack Del Rio, who cracked a smile or two at Monday’s weekly news conference.

The 1-1 coach vows the defense will get better, too.

“We just need to do what we do, better,” Del Rio said. “I think we took a step forward as a football team. Offensively, some of the things we were talking about a week ago were a lot better this week, and we’re looking to make that same kind of jump on defense.”

Derek Carr completed 30 of 46 passes for a career-high 351 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner to Seth Roberts with 26 seconds remaining, in Oakland’s 37-33 win over Baltimore.

Del Rio went out of his way Monday to heap more praise on former 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree, who had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. He would have had more yards and another score if Carr hadn’t underthrown him on one pass.

“I think Michael Crabtree had a phenomenal game, and it’s not just catching the ball,” Del Rio said. “He made some unbelievable catches in clutch situations, but the unselfishness, the way he blocked on the perimeter, just really, really terrific effort on his part, and the unselfish part is what I really appreciate.”

Del Rio also liked how offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave mixed in some up-tempo, no-huddle looks.

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders gestures in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders gestures in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 20, 2015 in Oakland, ... more Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Del Rio hopes Raiders’ defense takes same jump as offense 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“It’s a tool in the toolbox,” he said. “We feel like there are things we’re going to be able to do, sometimes it may be to go fast, sometimes it may be to go slow and slow the pace, but we want to be able to play at the speed that we dictate on offense.

“I feel like we’re learning how to do that and we had some good examples on Sunday of us being able to press the tempo and be able to take advantage of some of those matchups.”

Defensively, the Raiders still don’t have a sack and they gave up two touchdowns to the opposing tight end for the second straight week.

“There’s too many giveaway plays,” Del Rio said. “We need to keep the easy things in the easy category and not create problems for ourselves. Good, sound, solid football. As we do that and gain confidence, we’ll start making some of the routine plays and then some of the special plays will come.”

Safety Charles Woodson said there is a lot of work to do, but …

“It’s more fun to make corrections off of a win,” he said. “Winning makes everything better.”

Imagine what a win on the road would feel like. Oakland, which goes to Cleveland to play the Browns on Sunday, has lost 11 straight games away from home.

“You have to travel well,” Del Rio said. “It has to be businesslike in your approach. You’re not going to entertain family and friends, you’re going, really, with a mission to put all of your energies toward the game, toward your teammates, and doing all you can in your role. It’s an us-against-them mentality.”

And, defensive end Justin Tuck said, act like you have won before and plan to do it again. He plans to remind the younger players of that this week.

“It’s one win,” Tuck said. “Don’t act surprised. This is something that we’ve worked our butts off all offseason to do, so once we start playing well and start having success, don’t act surprised by it.

“Just continue to do what we’ve done and we have a lot of work to do. It isn’t like we found the milky river or whatever you want to call it. We still have a lot of work to do. That starts with coming back in here this week and getting our bodies back prepared to go.”

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur