3 bold predictions for the Las Vegas Raiders offense in 2020
The Raiders will have a top-10 offense
As discussed in the opening paragraphs, the 2019 Raiders offense had all the makings of the top offense between the 20s. The Raiders were 11th in the NFL in total yards, 9th in passing yards, 13th in rushing yards, and 6th in yards per play. They could move the ball up and down the field most of the time but two factors held them back from making the leap, penalties and the inability to finish drives with a score.
Those two factors are linked as many promising drives were derailed by penalties and opposing teams’ drives were extended by penalties. The Raiders were 3rd in the league with 128 penalties and only three teams in the top 15 in that statistic made the playoffs in 2019. In terms of scoring, the Raiders offense were 21st in the league in finishing drives with a score at just 32.9% and were 24th in points per game.
So what will help the Raiders turn all of those yards in to points and help them become a top-five offense? The simple answer is that they have more talent and more depth at every skill position on offense.
The lack of talent at WR at times can not be overstated as in some games in 2019 the Raiders, Week 5 against Chicago for example, rolled out a WR group of Hunter Renfrow, Keelan Doss, and Trevor Davis. The drop off from the preseason projected lineup of Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, and Ryan Grant was dramatic and the fact that the Raiders offense was still competent is a testament to the abilities of Derek Carr and Jon Gruden.
The additions of Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards to the WR will help the Raiders get more chunk plays down the field and the ancillary options Carr will have in the redzone in Lynn Bowden, Jason Witten, and Foster Moreau gives Gruden more toys to scheme around. Even backup QB Marcus Mariota can be part of these goal-line and red zone packages to give the offense an extra wrinkle or two that defenses will have to account for.
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With all of these weapons on the roster and the depth added at every position the sky is the limit for the Raiders offense in 2020 and top-10 will be the minimum that Raider Nation should expect. In 2016 the Raiders rode a 7th ranked scoring offense to a 12-4 record and if a playoff trip is on the cards then expect a similar offensive output in 2020.