The Las Vegas Raiders fall to 3-3, and Raider Nation is sounding off on the team’s biggest problems, from defensive struggles to talent and line play.
The Raiders are back at square one after a third straight loss, and the team’s fans have a clear idea of why the early-season momentum disappeared.
We asked followers on X what is holding the Raiders back, and the responses clustered around a few themes. The most common was talent. One fan said the roster still lacks enough of it and leans too heavily on young players who must develop. Another noted that outside of tight end, running back and quarterback, the two-deep is not yet at the level of a winning team, though he gave the coaching an A-plus and urged patience. A third put it this way: it is the group’s first season together, and the team has stayed competitive in every game but the loss at New England.
Rob Leonard’s defense drew the next-most attention…
One respondent called it the same problem as the past decade. Another said the defense cannot get stops even though the offense ranks among the league’s best. Others pointed to turnovers and a lack of a running game, with one questioning some of Kubiak’s play calls while still liking the team’s direction.
The third-quarter problem and the offensive line also came up. One fan said the Raiders keep digging holes after halftime, and that Ashton Jeanty’s struggles trace to the line, especially at guard, where he is getting hit well behind the line of scrimmage.
Related: Klint Kubiak sends blunt message after another Raiders loss
Those complaints matter because they map onto real roster questions. The Raiders have built around Brock Bowers, Jeanty and Kirk Cousins on offense, and the poll suggests fans see that trio as the foundation. The gaps are along the offensive line and in a secondary that has relied on two rookies and league-average veterans. With Cousins being a bridge to Fernando Mendoza, this season is as much about evaluating young players and finding where the next investments belong as it is about the win total.
Expect the front office to treat guard, cornerback and the pass rush opposite Maxx Crosby as the top priorities heading into the offseason, and expect the third-quarter adjustments to be a focus for Kubiak’s staff this week.
So where do you stand? Is this a talent problem the Raiders can only fix over time or a coaching and execution problem they can solve now?
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images