Heartbreaking—that’s the only way to describe the Raiders’ latest loss, an overtime defeat at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Still, there were a few positives to take away before addressing the glaring negatives. So, without further ado, let’s overreact.
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer are the best tight end duo in football…
This feels less like an overreaction and more like a fact: Brock Bowers is back—and it showed.
When healthy, Bowers is nearly unguardable one-on-one, even for cornerbacks. Calling him a “tight end” almost feels unfair to the rest of the position, because his hands and route-running rival most wide receivers.
And don’t forget about Michael Mayer. We’re seeing why many once viewed him as the top tight end in his draft class. He’s the more traditional in-line option but still a legitimate receiving threat. On most teams, Mayer would be the featured tight end. On the Raiders, he’s the No. 2 option—behind one of the NFL’s most dynamic weapons.
And the tight ends weren’t the only ones shining for Las Vegas this week…
The Raiders are a much better team coming out of the bye week…
There were noticeable changes this past week—and for once, mostly in the right direction.
The offense finally looked more cohesive, thanks in part to the return of Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. Chip Kelly appeared to loosen things up, and the execution followed suit. Pass protection wasn’t flawless, but it showed progress as the offensive line began to settle in. Running back Ashton Jeanty’s growth as a blocker has helped, too.
Defensively, Darien Porter has been a clear upgrade over Kyu Blu Kelly, and adjustments in the secondary have reduced the number of blown coverages. Jeremy Chinn also looks far more comfortable now that he’s spending more time in the box.
Still, even with those improvements, the defense continues to be the Raiders’ biggest problem.
This is the worst tackling team ever…
This isn’t just the worst tackling team in the NFL this season—or even the worst Raiders team. The 2025 Las Vegas Raiders might be the worst tackling team in the history of football.
Week after week, the same scenes play out: defenders in position to make routine stops, only to whiff because they don’t wrap up, leave their feet, or stop moving through contact. Those mistakes keep drives alive, flip field position, and leave the Raiders consistently out-possessed and on their heels.
It’s not one player or position group—it’s an epidemic across the entire defense. And that’s what makes it so maddening. Tackling is the most basic part of the game. It shouldn’t require fixing, and if it does, it should be simple. The fact that it’s reached this level—and still hasn’t been corrected—is another glaring indictment of this coaching staff.
Related: Can The Raiders Still Make Noise In The AFC West?
*Top Photo: Getty Images