It’s been a rough start for the Las Vegas Raiders. Few fans and experts could have predicted all the problems that the Silver and Black are facing right now.  After beginning the 2022 season with an 0-3 start, several veterans, such as Derek Carr and Maxx Crosby, recently led a players-only meeting. According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, there are several factors that have led to such an underwhelming start that require closer examination. Regardless, it’s obvious that the team has had enough.
Raiders News: Players Meeting led by Veterans, Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby held to confront 0-3 start
As fans will recall, following the most recent loss to the Tennessee Titans, owner Mark Davis decided it was time for a talk. We don’t know exactly what was on Davis’s mind. More than likely, he was disappointed with his team’s performance, obviously. Before speaking at his post-game press conference, head coach Josh McDaniels spoke with the Raiders’ owner behind closed doors. What was said between them during a lengthy conversation is unknown to the public. Be that as it may, Wilson stated that Davis and McDaniels weren’t the only ones to talk this week, “But that’s not all. Players, led by Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby, veteran quarterback Derek Carr, and other team leaders, held a players’ only meeting, according to league sources.”
So now what? Where do the Raiders go from here?
The 2022 season has been a far cry from what Raider Nation expected, to say the least. There were lofty expectations placed on this organization following the acquisitions of Chandler Jones and Davante Adams. The new regime also moved quickly during the course of the offseason to secure Carr, Crosby, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller to long-term commitments. That only fueled the expectations of many people. Now, this team finds itself as the sole winless squad in the NFL. It’s not an honor any organization would want to be known for.
Both Carr and Adams have expressed their disappointment (and anger) already. All the same, they remain confident and optimistic with regard to their squad. Adams, for example, spoke up on Monday regarding the team’s struggles, “I expect more. It’s not easy to win in this league, we know that … but we expect more, and we’ll do it better as we move forward. We can’t be flat early.”
Carr went a step further, pointing to the team’s practices as a source for some of the issues. “You try your best to do it the right way in practice, and if you don’t do it right in practice, then you can’t expect it to go right in the game. I can be optimistic,” Carr stated. Clearly, there’s plenty of blame to go around. The offense coming out flat, precision during practice not being emphasized, and, of course, Josh McDaniels’ inconsistent play calling. The Raiders need to figure this out quickly with their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos, coming to town. An 0-4 start with the Kansas City Chiefs after that will only serve to exacerbate all of these problems even more.
*Top Photo: AP Photo/Zach Bolinger