Raiders Round-Up Week 14: Vikings send Raiders to Valhalla, End Hopes of a Late Playoff Push

Well the good news is our offense can't possibly get worse. The Las Vegas Raiders, coming off of a bye, put up 0 points in 60 minutes of football. They had 8 first downs,  56 yards rushing, and turned the ball over 3 times, including a brutal fumble from Hunter Renfrow on their only trip into the Vikings red zone. 

 

The defense, to their credit, played spectacularly. Despite not getting any turnovers, they held the Vikings to a mere 50% completion from the QB's, totalling less than 100 total yards. They sacked the QB’s 5 times, including one from Robert Spillane, one from rookie DE Tyree Wilson, and two more for Maxx Crosby, bringing his season total to 13.5. 

 

We held the Vikings to three points. A single field goal was all they scored. However, when you put up 0 points on offense, 3 is all it takes to lose. As that field goal went through the uprights, it took any chance of a late playoff push with it. The Raiders fell to 5-9, and our hopes were cast off on a burning ship as the Vikings mercifully sent our season to Valhalla. 

 

As a fan, it's obviously frustrating. But more than that, it’s confusing. On paper, this offense should be an average offense. Instead they’re absolutely abysmal, and it’s hard to point the finger at one particular problem. O’Connell is doing ok, but clearly isn’t our QB of the future. Jacobs has struggled all season long, and seemed to limp off the field in the fourth quarter, so who knows what that’s about. Our offensive line can’t stay healthy. It’s just a malady for which there seems to be no cure. At least not this season.

 

When Josh McDaniels was fired and Antonio Pierce took over as the interim head coach, players and fans alike thought we might have found the right guy. The head coach of the Raiders should have that kind of swagger and attitude about him. He should “bring out the dog” in the players, and Pierce seemed to do that, at least in the beginning. Everybody but Mark Davis knew that McDaniels was never the right fit, but now, after three straight losses, it is doubtful that Pierce will become the permanent head coach. Hopefully he will stay on and continue to develop this defense into the shocking top 10 performer that they’ve become (and for the love of god, give Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham a raise). 

 

It is crucial that this team does two things in the offseason: Finds the right Head Coach/GM combo, and drafts the QB of the future. Cut Hoyer, get whatever you can for Jimmy G, keep O’Connell as your backup, and go grab the very best quarterback you can find. Six QB’s are projected to go in the first round of this year’s draft. Currently, the Raiders are projected to have the 8th pick, so there should be at least 3 or 4 to choose from. Drafting QB’s has never been our thing (anybody remember Jamarcus Russell?), but all it takes is one great draft to turn a franchise around. 

 

The Raiders have the makings of a great team. The pieces are there, we just need something to pull it all together. Unfortunately, whatever that something is, it’s going to have to wait for next season. And please, for the love of god, don’t hire any more Patriots.