After another lopsided defeat, the Las Vegas Raiders have been officially eliminated from playoff contention—a development that may surprise anyone who didn’t realize they were technically still alive. With any lingering hopes now extinguished, Raider Nation can finally do what it does best: overreact.
Brock Bowers is on a path few Raiders have ever walked…
Let’s start with the lone bright spot. Brock Bowers may be early in his career, but he already looks the part of an all-time great. He continues to carry an otherwise stagnant offense every week, and this time he elevated his case with one of the best catches of the season—and arguably one of the best in Raiders history.
Bowers is likely the most dynamic offensive player the Raiders have had in decades. You may have to go back to Tim Brown to find anyone with comparable impact. And he’s only in his second year. Barring injury or an inexplicable decision by the franchise, Bowers is positioned for a long, productive run in the Silver and Black. His ceiling is limited only by what the Raiders put around him.
Beyond Bowers, however, there was little to admire about the Raiders’ offense.
Firing Chip Kelly won’t fix the Raiders’ offense…
There was plenty of hope that Chip Kelly’s departure would unlock the Raiders’ offense. One week into Greg Olson calling plays, little has changed. The breakdowns were fewer, but the product was still difficult to watch. No tweak in play-calling can overcome substandard offensive line play, the reality that the team’s best wide receiver is a tight end, or the many limitations shown by Geno Smith.
These problems run deeper than the scheme. They stem from offensive philosophy and personnel choices—and those decisions trace back to one person…
Pete Carroll is sabotaging the team…
At times, it feels as if Pete Carroll is completely indifferent to winning. How else do you explain his refusal to give clear starting roles to rookies who are clearly the most qualified to play? They saw more snaps this week, but the constant rotations make it impossible for anyone to get into a rhythm.
Carroll even framed Chip Kelly’s firing as the turning point for increased rookie usage, as if Kelly were the one holding them back. That notion insults the rest of the staff, the locker room, and the fan base’s collective intelligence, especially when it comes to Darien Porter’s lack of playing time.
It is not just the rookies Carroll is mishandling. He continues to bury the team’s best quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, at the bottom of the depth chart. O’Connell has clear limitations, but it is difficult to argue he would be any worse than Geno Smith or Kenny Pickett. Carroll’s influence is also evident on defense. Patrick Graham has been the Raiders’ defensive coordinator for several years, but this season the unit looks unrecognizable.
Graham has always leaned on softer coverages, but never to the bland, static levels of the Carroll-inspired Cover 3 looks. His ability to adjust has also been curtailed by being forced to call games from the sideline, a decision that appears rooted more in Carroll’s preferences than in what best serves the team.
At this point, the Raiders need a fresh voice and a new direction on the sideline.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images