Things Are Just Not Working Out For The Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders were one of the top teams in the NFL in December last year. Led by an immense Derek Carr and a star WR duo of Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, many experts believed the Raiders were here to stay. And that they had enough pieces to become a powerhouse in the AFC year in and year out.

Fast-forward almost one year, and things have changed considerably for the Raiders. And not just because they are moving to Las Vegas in a few more years. Despite having a very similar roster to last year’s one, this time the Raiders look really bad. And the latest example was a huge 34-14 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills this past Sunday. The Raiders showed they don’t have a running game, plus a below-average defense and a quarterback that hasn’t fully recovered yet.

Everybody can point the struggles that have become noticeable in recent weeks. But what happened to Oakland in these past few months? There are a few theories, but the two biggest differences are the absence of a competent running game and a defense that doesn’t scare any team in the NFL right now.

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First, let’s start with the running game. The Raiders’ ground game should have received a huge boost with the offseason acquisition of Marshawn Lynch. However, that hasn’t been the case of late. Lynch was suspended for this game vs Buffalo, and the team felt his absence. Oakland finished the game with 54 rushing yards. To put things into perspective, Melvin Gordon scored a longer touchdown this season against the New England Patriots. IN ONE PLAY.

Those problems can kill a team. The Raiders are 2-9 when they rush for 55 or fewer yards in a game since 2014. And that register includes Sunday’s loss. That’s an ugly start for a team that’s been held under 55 rushing yards in three out of seven games this season.

Their offense is not Oakland’s biggest problem, though. Their defense has not responded to the pre-season expectations, and more often than not, they have looked extremely sloppy. They turned the ball over against Buffalo four times, and they haven’t done enough game-changing plays to ease the burden on Carr’s shoulders. Oakland needs playmakers, and they need a few soon. With no takeaways during the current season, the Raiders became the first team in the NFL since 1950 to not record at least one interception in the first eight weeks of the campaign.
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If we look at Oakland’s roster, they have one of the best defensive players in the league in Khalil Mack. He is expected to lead the team on that side of the ball, but the rest of the team just hasn’t been able to perform. And Oakland tends to have all sorts of negative records when their defense can’t produce. Sure, they are miles better than the team they were a few years ago. But it is undeniable that they are trending in the wrong direction of late.
Right now, their season is all but over. And unless something dramatic happens in the next few weeks, there’s a high chance the Raiders don’t reach the playoffs despite having a talented, deep roster on both sides of the ball.