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Win or lose on Saturday: the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders were a success

By Mario O. Tovar

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders fans celebrate after the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 to earn a playoff spot at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders fans celebrate after the Raiders defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 35-32 to earn a playoff spot at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 24: Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis (L) of the Las Vegas Raiders greets his defensive coordinator Gus Bradley before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 24: Owner and managing general partner Mark Davis (L) of the Las Vegas Raiders greets his defensive coordinator Gus Bradley before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Win or lose on Saturday: the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders were a success

Oh look, the Raiders have a defense now…

For the past few years, the common theme with fans has been that if “the Raiders had an average defense, they’d be in the playoffs.” Well, look no further, that is exactly what happened in 2021. Along with clinching a playoff spot, the fact that the Raiders now have a legitimate defense is a big reason why this season was a success.

For most of Gruden’s tenure, Paul Guenther was in charge of the defense. That unit was a hindrance to the progress Gruden was making. While he was assembling a reliable, accurate, and efficient offense, the defense lagged behind. The terrible display on the field during 2020 was finally enough grounds for a termination. Gus Bradley was then anointed as Guenther’s replacement, and the unit quickly evolved.

The evolution is quite impressive and should be rightly celebrated. In 2020, under Guenther, the Raiders ranked 20th in least yards after the catch, 26th least yards per play, and were 16th in QB knockdowns. If you look at those same numbers for 2021, you’ll note a stark difference. Especially in regards to QB knockdowns, the Raiders were ranked third this season.

The tackling was also vastly improved under Bradley when compared to Guenther’s time. In 2020, Las Vegas forced just eight forced fumbles. This year? The Silver and Black accumulated 13 as a team. A lot of that also had to do with the roster.

The Raiders drafted well when it came to defense, adding future stalwarts in Trevon Moehrig, Nate Hobbs, and Divine Deablo. The team also added players such as Denzel Perryman and Solomon Thomas before the season, so the talent turnover was noticeable.

With the defense hitting its stride going into Saturday, it’s likely that the Raiders will go as far as the defense can take them. More importantly, this Raiders defense can continue to be addressed in April during the draft, and with another big free agent addition, this unit can build on 2021’s success.

Must Read. Raiders need OT Trevor Penning in the 1st Round. light

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