In the Black Hole, every day is Halloween.
But today actually is Halloween for the rest of the general population, not just the Las Vegas Raiders' rabid fanbase. And as people get dressed up in costumes and prepare to go trick-or-treating on Saturday evening, I thought it'd be fun to talk about some Silver and Black tricks and treats.
You know, some misconceptions that Raider Nation may have had before the season that ended up being tricks, or some pleasant surprises that are surely serving as treats. At 3-4, it really has been a mixed bag. As many Twix and Skittles as Almond Joys or Pretzels, per se.
So, let's go door-to-door and see what ends up in our candy bag.
3 tricks and 3 treats for the Raiders at nearly the halfway point in 2026
Trick: Ashton Jeanty would have a breakout year
Jeanty's hasn't fully burst out of his shell yet, as the second-year running back is still struggling in a tough environment in Las Vegas to run the football. In fact, his numbers are pretty much down across the board. But a favorable Week 8 matchup could help him right the ship... and cash a big check.
Treat: Michael Mayer and Tre Tucker are having a breakout year
This was supposed to be the year of the running game for the Raiders, but it has actually been Mayer and Tucker who have stolen the show to support Brock Bowers. Mayer is living up to his hefty new extension he was given before the year, and Tucker has earned a new deal in Las Vegas as well.
Trick: Rick Dennison and Tyler Linderbaum would quickly resolve all of the OL issues
Rome was not built in a day, and perhaps it was foolish to think that one veteran addition and a coach could undo years and years of ineptitude up front. To be fair, the pass-blocking has been quite good, so both deserve a lot of credit for that. But the run-blocking is still a major issue in Las Vegas.
Treat: DJ Glaze's revival
Glaze seemed like the offensive lineman on the thinnest ice heading into the year, but it's not a hot take to say that he's been the unit's most reliable player. Fans just don't notice Glaze on Sundays, and that is a good thing. He's been good in the run game and has allowed one sack all year. Improvement!
Trick: Rob Leonard is the next big thing (after 3 weeks)
After the first three games, it felt like Leonard would be a hot commodity in next year's coaching cycle. But things have dramatically changed over the last few weeks, and now the Raiders' defense is among the very worst in the league. He is still young and should improve, but we jumped the gun.
Treat: Kirk Cousins has provided stability for the Raiders' offense
Cousins is far from the solution to taking this offense to another level. But fans have to be pleasantly surprised by the fact that not only is he not a net negative, but Cousins has actually been a positive. I'd still love to see Fernando Mendoza get some run, but Cousins has easily exceeded expectations.
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