Las Vegas is still searching for answers on offense beyond the quarterback problem
We’re eight games into the season and the Las Vegas Raiders are still searching for answers offensively as they rank 26th in the league with 18.0 points per game. Coincidentally, that’s also around the range of where the Raiders rank in NFL power rankings as the offensive struggles are holding the team back.
Sports Illustrated
29. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 26
An inexcusable turnover for Gardner Minshew in the fourth quarter of a one-score game. Over the last two weeks, Minshew has given us the totality of his experience in the world. Last week against the Rams, Minshew posted a -21.2 total EPA and a completion percentage below expectation of 14.3%. This week, he was a net positive 6.2 EPA with a 17.1 completion percentage above expectation. It was this kind of heater I thought he might get on after a disastrous week coming off the bench against Los Angeles. Alas, my bold prediction was for naught and the sometimes spicy Raiders will die a quiet death this year. — Conor Orr
This highlights one of the more frustrating aspects about Gardner Minshew. He wasn’t Las Vegas’ biggest problem on Sunday against the Chiefs, but he’s also cost the team games when they needed him to come through. The volatility in his play speaks to why Minshew has been a backup for the majority of his career.
The Athletic
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 26
Something Scary: The ground game
The Raiders are averaging 79 rushing yards per game. Since 2000, the only time they have averaged less was in 2014 (77.5 per game). That team went 3-13, and this one might be on the way to that. Alexander Mattison led Las Vegas on Sunday with 14 carries for 15 yards. As a group, the Raiders rushed 26 times for 33 yards. That’s gross. — Josh Kendall
While it’s not as if Mattison and Zamir White are Barry Sanders or Adrian Peterson, the figures above are also an indictment of the offensive line’s performance this season. Collectively, the Raiders have a 52.3 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the fourth-worst in the NFL.
NFL.com
29. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 28
The Raiders had a legitimate chance on Sunday if they’d taken advantage after intercepting Patrick Mahomes near his own end zone while trailing 17-13. But the Chiefs made a goal-line stop, then put together a 19-play, 87-yard field-goal drive that took up nearly 10 minutes. Gardner Minshew coughed up a fumble two plays into the next possession, forcing a worn-out Las Vegas defense back on the field, after which the Chiefs put it away. Two Raiders possessions reached the K.C. 4-yard line, and they only got three points out of them. Minshew is up to 11 turnovers this season, so it will be interesting to see how Antonio Pierce handles the QB position next week at the Bengals. With Aidan O’Connell on injured reserve, the only realistic option besides Minshew is Desmond Ridder, who technically didn’t do anything Sunday but was on the field for one third-quarter play that resulted in a false start. If Ridder is given a shot, maybe the former Cincinnati Bearcat can tap into some of the college magic he spun in the Queen City to spark the Raiders.
At the beginning of the campaign, Las Vegas was doing well in the red zone as the club currently ranks 15th by converting 57.1 percent of its opportunities inside the 20 into touchdowns. However, one could argue that was because the offense wasn’t getting down there often and was benefitting from converting on a low number of attempts. The last three weeks back that claim up as the Raiders have just a 44.4 percent touchdown rate in the red zone during that timeframe.
ESPN
25. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 28
Best offseason addition: Tight end Brock Bowers
The No. 13 draft pick has been everything Las Vegas had hoped for and more. After Week 8, the rookie is leading the NFL with 52 catches. “He’s in a league of his own, I think,” said receiver Jakobi Meyers when asked how Bowers stacks up to other tight ends. “That’s a different kind of cat.” Indeed, Bowers’ 535 receiving yards also lead all NFL tight ends. — Paul Gutierrez
Fun Bowers stat of the week; per PFF, he ranks second among all rookies (regardless of position) who have at least four contested targets with a contested catch rate of 61.5 percent.
Bleacher Report
26. Las Vegas Raiders
Last week: 27
The Raiders are a bottom-tier team that will battle playoff-caliber opponents in a close matchup and find a way to lose in the final quarter. Under head coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders seem to feed off the underdog role, but they’re too flawed and lack the talent—partially because of injuries—to pull off upset wins. The Raiders haven’t quit on Pierce, but they’ll be outmatched in most of their remaining games. — Moe Moton
It’s hard to argue with the logic above seeing as the Raider went all of October without a win, losing four games in a row. In my opinion, the team has three “winnable” games left on the schedule. Week 11 at Miami off the bye week—granted, Tua Tagovailoa being back makes the Dolphins a stronger opponent—Week 16 against the Jaguars and the game right after that one in New Orleans.
