Oakland Raiders: Thoughts on blowout Week 1 loss

Sep 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin (right) and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton shake hands after the game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders much anticipated home opener to the 2015 season was a game that was supposed to mark a new era after Dennis Allen failed to progress the franchise’s rebuild. Head coach Jack Del Rio and his coaching staff brought in to bring the team back to respectability in the AFC West after a combined 11-37 record over the past three seasons.

On Sunday afternoon the new head coaching staff appeared to push the Raiders backwards as one of the most embarrassing season openers in team history saw the team look anything but a new and improved unit. A dominant performance from the Cincinnati Bengals crashing the Raider Nation back to earth as fresh wounds of poor play were reopened to begin a year where many are hoping that things will be better on the field with more talent and improved coaching.

Losing 33-13 and facing several injuries, the Raiders are now left to pick up the pieces of a game that has rattled the confidence in Oakland after just one game. A performance with little positives until garbage time and where Derek Carr left with an injured throwing hand putting the team in a clear tailspin after so much hope. With a team in a minor crisis mode and left to look for answers, here are five thoughts on the Raiders’ Week 1 performance.

Next: Thought #1: Still Rebuilding