Raiders fire OC Chip Kelly, underscoring why Sin City has become NFL disaster area

After falling to 2-9, the Las Vegas Raiders are already making big changes to their coaching staff. 

Following a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. It wasn't an unwarranted move. Vegas' offense ranks 30th in the league in yards (268.9) and is tied for last in scoring (15 PPG).

Kelly's ineffective play-calling isn't the only reason the Raiders have collapsed this season. With that in mind, here are five reasons Vegas is in disarray: 

1. Raiders QB Geno Smith is awful

In March, the Raiders acquired two-time Pro Bowler Smith from the Seattle Seahawks, hoping he would provide needed stability at the most important position. Now, the team may be wondering if it should target another QB in the 2026 NFL Draft, perhaps Indiana's Fernando Mendoza or Alabama's Ty Simpson. 

Smith is tied with Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa for the league lead (13) in interceptions. The 35-year-old veteran also ranks 32nd of 33 eligible QBs in QBR (29.4). 

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has said he's confident Smith will overcome his struggles, but it's hard to buy that. Over his past three starts, he has tossed the same number of TD passes and interceptions (two). 

2. Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty underwhelms   

The Raiders took Jeanty with pick No. 6 in the 2025 NFL Draft. The former Boise State star became the first RB to be selected within the top six of the draft since Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley, whom the New York Giants took with pick No. 2 in 2018. 

Before the draft, Jeanty wrote he could have a similar impact to Barkley, who helped the Eagles win their second Super Bowl during the 2024 season. The RB has failed to back up that bold claim. 

Through his first 11 games, Jeanty has averaged a subpar 3.6 yards per carry (604 rushing yards). That's a big surprise after he ran for the second-most yards (2,601 in 14 games) in a season in FBS history in 2024 and won the Doak Walker Award as the best RB in college football. 

3. Raiders offensive line ranks among the worst in the league

Jeanty and Smith haven't met expectations, but Vegas' O-line has clearly contributed to their struggles. Entering Week 12, Pro Football Focus ranked the unit as the second worst in the league behind the Los Angeles Chargers.

The O-line isn't giving Smith much time to throw. Vegas has allowed 41 sacks, the second most in the league behind the Tennessee Titans (45). 

It's not giving Jeanty much room to run, either. Pro Football Reference credits the Raiders with 382 rushing yards before contact, the fewest in the league. (Rushing yards before contact measure how many yards a runner gains before being hit, a good indicator of whether an O-line is blocking effectively.) 

The Raiders placed starting center Jackson Powers-Johnson (ankle) on injured reserve following a 10-7 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 10. His absence hasn't helped matters, but Vegas still has one of the weaker O-lines in the league if he were healthy. 

4. Raiders should've dealt DE Maxx Crosby before the trade deadline

Plenty of teams in the playoff hunt (Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens) would've been interested in Crosby had the Raiders made him available before the deadline on Nov. 4. Instead, Vegas kept the four-time Pro Bowler, which could be a mistake. 

Super Bowl contenders should keep star players, not perennial losers like the Raiders. Vegas has made one playoff appearance in the seven seasons Crosby has played for the Raiders.     

The Raiders could've fetched multiple draft picks in a trade that featured Crosby, who's tied for 20th in the league in sacks (six in 11 games). In a in a hypothetical trade in a story published in October, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton had Detroit sending two first-rounders to Vegas for the standout edge-rusher.

The Raiders could explore trading Crosby again this offseason, but if they don't find a suitor, the DE may be left carrying an inept defense again in 2026. Vegas ranks 23rd in the league in points allowed (25.2). 

5. HC Pete Carroll has seemingly lost his touch

Carroll, who served as Seattle HC from 2010-23, failed to lead the Seahawks to the playoffs in two of his last three seasons with the team. The Raiders ignored that and banked on the Super Bowl XLVIII champion immediately reinvigorating the organization. However, things aren't working out, and the coach seems overwhelmed.

"I never thought it would take this much work to get it right," the 74-year-old coach told the media Sunday. "I thought, 'Well, maybe I could have something to do with avoiding this.'" 

It may be a matter of time before the Raiders move on from Carroll. On Monday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter told Pat McAfee nobody is "safe" after the firing of Kelly.