Las Vegas Raiders: 2022 season has become a nightmare
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders went into the 2022 season with high expectations, but it has become a nightmare scenario for the players, fans, and coaches.
Going into their Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, many felt the time had come for the Las Vegas Raiders to turn their season around. Sitting at 2-4, the Silver and Black had back-to-back games coming up against the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars, teams that were floundering at that point as well.
Based on talent, the assumption was that the Raiders would go into both New Orleans and Jacksonville and win on the road, moving to 4-4, and getting ready to make a playoff push. However, it has become a nightmare scenario for the team since then, as they lost both, and have done so in an embarrassing fashion.
The Saints game was a joke, as they were blown out 24-0, and against Jacksonville, they blew a 17-0 lead for the third time this season and would end up losing to Trevor Lawrence and company, 27-20. At this point, it may be time to blow this whole thing up.
Raiders may need to hit the reset button
The 2021 season had its fair share of nightmare scenarios, from Henry Ruggs III, to the Jon Gruden firing. However, that team banded together behind interim head coach Rich Bisaccia, winning four straight to close the regular season, and earning a Wild Card spot.
The 2022 team has shown no sense of urgency or fire, and they are dangerously close to being a team that picks in the top-3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. For all the excitement, and all the additions, and the undefeated preseason, to go into this year and completely disappoint is extremely frustrating, and surprising.
There is talent on this team, that is unquestioned, but at this point, you have to consider a rebuild.
If Las Vegas picks in the top-3 next year, a quarterback has to be on their radar, and that could set the team up for a learning curve for a year or so. Derek Carr did sign an extension, but the team can move on from him next offseason if they want, and after nine years at the helm, and no playoff wins, that time may be coming.
The truth is, the early season struggles could have been the team adjusting under a new head coach, but it remains to be seen if that head coach will even be here next year, despite support from Mark Davis in recent weeks. Losses to New Orleans and Jacksonville, especially the way they occurred is a glaring indication that this team is lost, and with a general manager looking to make a name for himself in David Ziegler, how long do you think he will sit back and watch this brand of losing?