Is The Las Vegas Raiders’ Season Already Washed?

Oh, the Las Vegas Raiders have been here before: blown out on the East Coast. Can’t block, can’t tackle. Happy home fans throw a fiesta, and the season seems lost for Las Vegas.

However, could it be that the season is truly lost after Week 3?

Yes, it definitely could be. The Raiders were built to feature running back Ashton Jeanty so they could parlay his yards into opportunities for Brock Bowers and other playmakers. But the run game is broken. Although the potential of Jeanty remains uncertain, it is evident that he is not the primary problem. It’s the offensive line.

That’s the worst news. But the season is still young, and coach Pete Carroll is a proven winner. So let’s take a look at the reasons the Raiders could be washed—or not washed—this season.

Washed…

The Offensive Line

The Raiders overhauled their entire front office and a significant portion of their roster. Part-owner and NFL legend Tom Brady is more involved than ever. But the No. 1 reason for last season’s collapse remains the same. The offensive line looks just as weak as last year, and it’s perhaps even worse than before.

Rather than keeping lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson at center, where he excelled in college and showed promise as a young professional, the coaching staff decided to move him to guard. Unfortunately, due to an injury to Powers-Johnson and the limited time available for practice, the young talent was unable to start against the Commanders.

Jeanty has already displayed solid potential, but it’s hard to see when he’s getting met by not one but two defenders in the backfield. A lack of a run game has a devastating trickle-down effect on the roster and game plan. Pass protection is much harder, getting the ball to playmakers becomes a chore, and the defense has to work harder. There are two coaches named Carroll in the building to fix the issue, as Coach Carroll’s son, Brennan Carroll, is in charge of the offensive line. They need to fix this issue ASAP. If they can’t, this season will go off the rails quickly.

Run Defense/Tackling

Are blocking and tackling important in the NFL? It should be an obvious yes, but there wasn’t much of that on display against the Commanders. So who even knows anymore?

The Raiders allowed 174 rushing yards in the first half, including an unsightly 60-yard touchdown run after tying the score at 10-10. There were multiple missed tackles on the play. Tackling on special teams was just as abysmal. Without adequate blocking and tackling, this season is undoubtedly over.

Losing To A Backup QB

An East Coast road game will always have an added degree of difficulty for the Raiders. But when the home team starts its backup quarterback, a window of opportunity opens.

Or so one would think. The Raiders didn’t come close to taking advantage. The defense did force one turnover, but it wasn’t able to force backup quarterback Marcus Mariota into feeling uncomfortable, mostly because he didn’t have to do much thanks to all his team’s rushing yards.

Overall, the loss is a troubling indication for the team’s future. If they had simply played solid, complementary football, they might have kept the game close and applied some pressure on Mariota to perform. Instead, the Raiders suffered a humiliating loss.

Not Washed…

Road Game With A Short, Soft Week Of Practice

The Raiders faced a team with a backup quarterback, but the Commanders had extra practice time due to playing Week 2 on Thursday night. Las Vegas, on the other hand, had a short week of practice after losing to the Chargers on Monday Night Football.

This incident falls into the “excuse” category, but it is nevertheless notable. Most notable: Coach Carroll said his team didn’t hit during practice this week due to the quick turnaround. That clearly affected his team’s performance in those two key categories: blocking and tackling.

It was likely a mistake to skip the hitting portion of football practice. Carroll may have used this strategy with his more experienced teams, but the Raiders need all the practice they can get. When the Raiders are able to hit during practice, their chances of victory will improve.

Plus, road games are tough, period. Look at the Packers, for example. They looked unstoppable during their two home games but lost to the Browns in their first trip out of town. Still, the Raiders must protect their home field moving forward for this excuse to hold up.

Improving The Offensive Line

Sure, the offensive line looks terrible. And that could be, in part, because of decisions made by the coaching staff.

But the coaching staff could always reverse its decisions. It could place Powers-Johnson back at center and move center Jordan Meredith back to guard. Then, multiple generations of Carrolls can coach them up, assuming they are up to the task.

QB Geno Smith

Quarterback Geno Smith had a terrible game against the Chargers, but he once again proved he can sling it against the Commanders.

And despite facing heavy pressure, he didn’t turn the ball over. Raiders fans can think of quarterbacks of the past who would have fumbled the ball away in the pocket multiple times when facing such a challenge.

Having a solid signal caller is always a reason for optimism. Smith has shown he has the temperament to live week-to-week and not let poor performances weigh him down. Las Vegas will need that attitude moving forward—ideally, less so as the team starts to pick up more wins.

Defense Forcing Turnovers

The jury is still out on the Raiders’ defense. It had two solid performances to start the season and looked lost against the Commanders. But it’s forcing turnovers. For the first time since 2016, it’s had a takeaway in each of the Raiders’ first three games. If the Raiders improve in other areas, forcing turnovers could lead them to more victories.

TE Brock Bowers

Tight end Brock Bowers seemed like an afterthought against the Commanders. But he’s one of the best playmakers in the NFL. Bowers possesses the ability to dominate any football game, making him a crucial asset for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Of course, Kelly must find a way to get the football to Bowers despite having to deal with a suspect offensive line.

And then there’s Pete Carroll…

For obvious reasons, the offensive line’s performance has drawn attention. However, with Brennan Carroll at the helm, the issue of nepotism has become more pressing. That’s a negative look and a potential distraction, too.

But coach Pete Carroll is still a proven winner. For now, his presence is a clear reason for optimism. It’s good that he himself is optimistic. Judging from Sunday’s performance, he clearly has a tough task in front of him.

Now’s the time for him to work his magic and lead a productive week of practice. Without a solid performance against the Bears in Las Vegas Week 3, some will wonder whether he’s still got what it takes after a year away from the NFL, despite his many, many years of experience. No one involved with the Raiders wants to encounter that situation, particularly at this early stage of the season.