Josh McDaniels' struggles prove the grass isn't always greener for Raiders

The Raiders won 10 games last season, despite coach Jon Gruden's midseason resignation due to scandal, receiver Henry Ruggs III's arrest for allegedly killing a woman while driving drunk, and cornerback Damon Arnette's release after he made death threats on social media. So, why are the Raiders 0-3 today? 

Despite winning their last four games in 2021 and reaching the playoffs for the first time in five years, Las Vegas opted against keeping interim coach Rich Bisaccia and instead hired Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 

Bisaccia didn't have much of a background beyond being a longtime special teams coach, but something was working. He was able to get the minds of his players in the right place after all of the turmoil, to the point that the Raiders won a slew of close games down the stretch. 

Just as he did when he fired Jack Del Rio in 2017, owner Mark Davis had his eye on a higher-profile hire. McDaniels was his choice, and he got the deal done.

McDaniels' mismanagement hasn't been as blatant as new Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett, but the record speaks for itself. The Raiders are the only 0-3 team through three weeks, with all three losses by less than a touchdown. 

A turnover-riddled Week 1 turned into an epic collapse in Week 2, when both sides of the ball cratered in the second half. In what should've been a bounce-back game against the winless Titans on Sunday, the Raiders' offense posted 396 yards but couldn't capitalize on opportunities. 

McDaniels has abandoned the running game in critical situations, despite an efficient year from Josh Jacobs so far. Davante Adams' usage has also been puzzling — after seeing 17 targets in Week 1, the star receiver has just seven catches over the last two weeks. 

McDaniels had a "lengthy closed-door meeting" with Davis immediately after Sunday's loss to the Titans, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. 

While Davis doesn't make changes at the rapid pace his father did, the meeting signals a sense of urgency to fix the problem. There might not by as many problems to fix if Davis had stuck with what worked last season.