We’re coming to a team that started last season with great ambitions, but wasn’t really successful in the end. Incidentally, this team has always made it exciting, because 13 of the 17 games of this season ended with a score advantage or a score deficit.
Welcome to the Las Vegas Raiders Season Recap!
The Raiders had strengthened prominently in the offseason. With Devante Adams came perhaps the best wide receiver the league currently has to offer. Adams was keen to play alongside his best friend Derek Carr. With Josh McDaniels came a new head coach.
But the season got off to a really bad start. Loss to the Chargers, to Arizona and in Tennessee. Although they managed their first win of the season against Denver, the team lost against Kansas City. What’s particularly annoying is that all four losses are one score games. You’re also close against Kansas City. After the early bye, a sense of achievement succeeds over Houston, but what follows is probably the worst performance of the season in the loss in New Orleans. After that you also lose in Jacksonville and against Indianapolis. The Raiders are second and seven and are no less awaiting the sacking of head coach Josh McDaniels. But he manages at least a bit of the turnaround, picking up three wins in a row, in Denver, in Seattle and against the Chargers. An unfortunate defeat at the Los Angeles Rams ended the run, and the win over New England came too late.
The season ends with three losses in a row, in Pittsburgh, against San Francisco and against Kansas City. Derek Carr is benched before the end of the season and it is clear that he would leave the team, which he does for New Orleans.
Surprise: It’s no surprise that Josh Jacobs is a really good running back. But he always manages to step it up a notch, in 2022 he really turns it up with 12 touchdowns and 1653 yards.
Disappointment: Derek Carr couldn’t make the decisive step from a decent to a very good quarterback. 14 interceptions are just too many.
How were the rookies?
Guard Dylan Parham war solide.
RB Zamir White had 17 runs for 70 yards.
DT Neil Farrell was used only sporadically.
DT Matthew Butler had half a sack.
OT Thayer Munford did a solid job.
RB Brittain Brown played little.
That was good: the defense was pretty solid. 2nd in yards allowed by passing, 5th in total yards and 9th in points allowed.
That was bad: if you have at least a solid quarterback, an outstanding wide receiver and a strong running back, 22nd place in points scored is simply not enough. 30th place on the fourth attempt is not particularly great either. The draft has not yet brought the hoped-for reinforcement.
What should you do?
Reinforcement on cornerback and improving the oline would definitely make sense. You also have to consider whether you really want to start the new season with Jimmy Garoppolo on quarterback? It would be possible to add a young quarterback, which you could theoretically put on the bench for the first year and let Jimmy teach you.
