The whirlwind that was the Raiders 2021 season has ended in disappointment following today’s loss in the Wild Card round to the Bengals.
The Las Vegas Raiders overcame the odds and bounced back following a disaster stretch of games back in December. Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia rallied the Raiders and got them into the playoffs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the team now heads back to Las Vegas, coming in on the short end of the stick in Cincinnati.
It was a relatively close game, even if the final score reflects a touchdown differential. The contest itself was marred by terrible penalties and even uglier officiating. Be that as it may, you don’t rely on the referees, you play to win the game, and the Raiders, for the most part, had their chance. Even as quarterback Derek Carr threw an interception towards the end of regulation, the team was in the red zone with an opportunity to send the contest into overtime.
We all know how the Raiders thrived in overtime this year, so at that point, it would’ve been anyone’s game. In the end, it wasn’t meant to be, and the Bengals now move on.
Unfortunately, this game disappointed all across the board. More importantly, it shed light on the team’s weaknesses. Sadly, it might have also marked the end of Bisaccia’s run as interim head coach. The bigger question now looms ahead regarding Mike Mayock’s future as well. Suffice it to say, the plane ride back will be a somber one.
As we all know, looking ahead to free agency, the NFL draft, and developments surrounding the head coach and general manager positions, there was much to react to in this one.
Instant reaction following Raiders crushing playoff loss to Bengals
The offensive line disappointed
The Raiders’ offensive line looked undisciplined and out of sync in the biggest game of the year. Scratch that, the biggest game of the last 20 years. That cannot go unpunished. Tom Cable, who has done a solid job since returning to the Silver and Black, looked bad in this one. The mental breakdowns that resulted in penalty after penalty derailed much of the offense’s rhythm during the game.
Other than Kolton Miller, Denzelle Good, and Andre James, none of the current offensive linemen should be guaranteed to return in 2022. There’s much work to be done, and if, say, a new head coach comes in, it’s likely we have seen the end of Cable’s tenure. Simply put, the playoff spotlight was too bright for this unit, which is unfortunate considering they had been doing a solid job during their four-game streak, not a perfect one, but solid nonetheless.
They were able to open holes for Josh Jacobs, so there were positives to come out of this. He ended the game with 83 yards off of 13 carries, though penalties also negated his production. It could be said that the Raiders needed to go to Jacobs more often, but they quickly fell behind, which automatically meant the team needed to score quickly. Regardless, Jacobs carried the team in the final stretch of the year and even in today’s contest. With a rebuilt offensive line, Jacobs may be back to form next season.
Instant reaction following Raiders crushing playoff loss to Bengals
The Raiders need to nail the draft in April
It goes without saying, but we all knew this Raiders team had several weaknesses, and they were exposed today. The offensive line needs lots of fine-tuning, in particular, a right tackle, another starting offensive guard, and possibly another swing lineman. Regrettably, holes in the defense were also exposed. The Raiders need to add depth at the cornerback slot. This needs to be a priority. The lack of options in trying to guard Ja’Marr Chase was laughable, though the play calling by Gus Bradley only helped to exacerbate the problem.
Though players such as Hunter Renfrow, Zay Jones, and DeSean Jackson all made key plays, the Raiders don’t have a true number one receiver. At least not one with the caliber of talent like Chase. This upcoming class in April will have several wide receiver prospects, and there will also be options in free agency. Whoever is calling the shots in Vegas this offseason will need to address this issue as well.
Las Vegas Raiders comeback falls short in 26-19 Wild Card loss to Bengals
Another game, another finish that came down to the wire as the Las Vegas Raiders fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-19 in the Wild Card round.
Overall, the Raiders’ coaching staff was literally outcoached as the team also killed its own momentum throughout the game. The play calling was shoddy on defense, and there was a questionable lack of aggressive play-calling with regards to the offense. All in all, there will be plenty of changes this offseason following this tough loss, but the Raiders aren’t too far off from returning to the playoffs either.