We’re in the midst of the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2022 season, and it’s not looking good.
Here’s why we think the team is doomed.
#5 The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2-5 record
How does a team that was starting to reach the playoff conversation end up 2-5? That is the question Las Vegas Raiders fans are asking after their team’s disastrous 2022 start. This includes losses to the Saints, the Chiefs, the Chargers, and the Titans.
The loss to the Chiefs was 30-29 and only happened after a failed two-point attempt. Another close one was their 24-22 loss to the Titans, where their defense just gave up, allowing 24 points in the first half. Of course, the Titans were held to zero points in the second half, but the offense had too big of a hole to climb out of.
Speaking of holes, the Las Vegas Raiders don’t seem to have what it takes to climb out of this one. They are last in their division, have losses to two out of the three divisional teams, and have a tough schedule ahead.
#4 The Las Vegas Raiders’ defense
The Las Vegas Raiders defense was the biggest question mark coming into 2022, and it still hasn’t gotten figured out. In fact, the Raiders have allowed a total of 174 points in seven games, which comes out to about 25 points per game. They also got shut out last Sunday against The Saints, marking their first of the season.
The Raiders never seem to come up clutch when it matters. A perfect example was their Week Two loss to the Arizona Cardinals, where they gave up 23 points in the second half. They also gave up a final six points in overtime to seal the deal for the Cardinals. It was just a total breakdown. The offense did everything possible to keep the game competitive, but the defense gave it all up in the second half.
Does this seem like a team that could go anywhere in the playoffs?
#3 The Raiders’ remaining 2022 schedule
The Las Vegas Raiders don’t have a very easy schedule going forward and it’s unlikely that they are going to rack up many wins. Games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts, the Seahawks, the Rams, and the Patriots could all be season-enders. This leaves the team with very little room for error and puts their season on life support every single week.
They would need at least six wins in the next ten weeks and that seems impossible. Not only is that evident by the team having one of the worst defenses in the league, but also a very one-dimensional offense. If the Raiders somehow overcome those two battles, they then have to deal with having an inexperienced coach in Josh McDaniels.
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#2 The Las Vegas Raiders’ divisional record
Divisional games matter, and the Raiders have one of the worst records in the league. They are currently 1-2 in divisional matchups losing the season opener to the Chargers and on Monday Night Football to the Chiefs. Their lone win came against the Denver Broncos, who were struggling under Russel Wilson.
The Raiders can’t beat the Chiefs and probably won’t beat the Chargers, either. Las Vegas might even fall to the Denver Broncos in their next meeting at Mile high.
The Chargers game shows why. While the Raiders were down 17-3 at halftime, they mounted a ten-point comeback. The problem was that the Chargers were able to score a touchdown in the third quarter, which left the game out of reach. You know that’s gonna happen again, right? The defense just never holds for the Raiders.
#1 The Las Vegas Raiders’ 0-4 away record
The final nail in the coffin for the Raiders’ season might just be their away record. Las Vegas currently stands at 0-4 in away games, and their upcoming schedule has at least five of them. Between their away record, their defense, and the offense’s inability to be consistent, you can’t imagine the Raider making the playoffs.
Bonus Josh McDaniels as head coach and Derek Carr as Quarterback.
The combination of Derek Carr and Josh McDaniels isn’t working. McDaniels has no business being a head coach in the NFL and has proven that by his 2-5 record. The Raiders probably would have been better off with Rich Bisaccia keeping the role. What really hurt the Raiders, though, was deciding to keep Derek Carr as quarterback.
The Raiders signed the veteran QB to a two-year $121.5 million extension, which looks very foolish in hindsight. Carr’s numbers aren’t terrible; he just isn’t performing at a high level. He currently sits with 1621 yards, nine touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 86.8.
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