Even though they weren’t particularly good at football in 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders were entertaining. They may have provided entertainment by having supporters laugh at their incompetence or by having some of their great players provide highlights, but they still offered us something to talk about. Let’s examine the five most impressive statistics related to the 2022 Raiders. Hold on as we analyze them; some may be stunning, while others may be disheartening.
Stat No. 1: Five Second-Half Blown Leads For The Raiders
Against the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Raiders had leads in the second half. Out of those five games, surely, they should have won at least one of them. They didn’t, though, as they choked those games away in the second half. Aside from the Chiefs and Steelers games, they embarrassingly squandered their leads. They were up 20-0 at halftime against the Cardinals but lost. Then, when playing the Jaguars, they led 20-10 at the half before being blanked and losing.
Baker Mayfield got to Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
He just led the Rams on a 98 yard game-winning drive to beat the Raiders.
48 hours after joining the team.
Unfathomable. pic.twitter.com/INGGif7i5Y
— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKTUL) December 9, 2022
The most embarrassing moment was when Baker Mayfield, who had only joined the team two days prior, orchestrated a 98-yard drive to defeat them. The Raiders’ inability to close out those five second-half leads is evidence that they are still mired in mediocrity.
Stat No. 2:Â 5th team in NFL history to have both a 1,500-yard rusher and receiver…Â
En route to All-Pro First Team honors, @iAM_JoshJacobs and @tae15adams both racked up 1,500+ yards this season.
The 2022 #Raiders are only the 5th team in NFL history to have a 1,500-yard rusher and receiver in the same season – the first since the Colts in 1999 (James/Harrison) pic.twitter.com/Xti9w1vmxX
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) January 13, 2023
The Raiders were the fifth team in NFL history to have a player rush for and catch for 1,500 yards. Josh Jacobs finished the year with 1,653 rushing yards, while Davante Adams finished with 1,516. Edgerrin James and Marvin Harrison, both former Indianapolis Colts, were the last teammates to accomplish this feat in 1999. Although the Raiders were a disaster, these two first-team All-Pro players were outstanding. Adams and Jacobs both captivated the audience and helped the Raiders win games. To avoid wasting these two stars, let’s hope Jacobs returns and the Raiders get a win-now quarterback.
Stat No. 3:Â 11 fields goals from 50 yards or moreÂ
Daniel Carlson also received a berth on the first All-Pro team, like Adams and Jacobs. Carlson had a tremendous season, but one aspect jumps out more than the others. According to Raiders PR, Carlson made 12 field goals from 50 yards or more, setting a new NFL record for the most 50-yard field goals in a single season. The fact that he shattered this record while making 85 percent of his field goals is what makes this achievement so astounding. Being so accurate from 50 yards out is amazing. The Raiders did it again and found a fantastic kicker.
Stat No. 4:Â 20 years without back-to-back playoff appearancesÂ
The Raiders added key players for the 2022 season and were coming off a 10-win campaign. This team was on its way to making back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since making three consecutive trips from 2000 to 2002. But when it counted the most, they crumbled, and it didn’t happen. They lost several leads, had terrible coaching, an inconsistent offense, and a poor defense. Let’s hope general manager Dave Ziegler and Co. nail the offseason of 2023 and put themselves back in the running for the playoffs because they showed no signs of consistency or success.
Stat No. 5: Davante Adams breaking records for the Raiders in Year 1
Due to Henry Ruggs III’s tragic and legal troubles, coupled with the Raiders’ decision to release him, the team was in severe need of a wide receiver. In the end, they acquired Adams, the league’s top wide receiver, by trade. Many people, including me, believed that Adams would need some time to get used to life without Aaron Rodgers. In the end, he didn’t need an adjustment period and continued to harass the secondaries of other teams. Adams enjoyed great success, but most importantly, his 1,516 receiving yards in one season are a Raiders record. Adams needed a year to begin shattering Raiders records; now, find him a quarterback.
Today against the 49ers, Davante Adams broke @81TimBrown record for most receiving yards in a single season for “his dream organization.†pic.twitter.com/onmRhmXmnW
— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) January 2, 2023
*Top Photo: Scott Winters/Icon Sports Wire via Getty Images