LAS VEGAS — Let’s face it, there weren’t too many opportunities remaining for the Raiders to win a football game this season.
Sunday happened to be one such occasion. At least that was the belief going into the contest against a Cleveland Browns team that was starting a rookie quarterback, had its own share of issues and misery all season, and, like the Raiders, was 2-8 when it walked into Allegiant Stadium.
So what happens? The Raiders look like the stumblebums they’ve been on offense all season, Shedeur Sanders plays adequately enough in his debut as an NFL starter at quarterback and the Browns manage to improve to 3-8 after posting a 24-10 win.
“We’re pretty disappointed about this one,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. “But if you can’t score, you can’t win.”
Disappointed enough to relieve Chip Kelly of his duties as offensive coordinator. Multiple reports had the Raiders making a change as Kelly, who came over from Ohio State to work with Carroll, became the second member of Carroll's staff to be let go this season. Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was fired on Nov. 7.
You’d like to think that with a pair of 2-8 teams squaring off, the one hosting would have the advantage, that it would be the one playing harder and be the one more likely to emerge victorious.
Nope. Not a chance.
The Raiders are mired in an abyss so deep, so wretched, that even the Browns looked like they knew what they were doing. Though someone should explain to me what the hell Jerry Jeudy was doing in the second quarter when he started prancing in the midst of a long gain after catching a pass from Sanders only to have Jeremy Chinn hustle and punch the ball out of grasp and the Raiders’ Landon Roberts recovered.
That’s the highlight for Sunday from a Silver and Black perspective.
What can Carroll say or do at this point? He’s already fired his special teams coach. Kelly was let go following Sunday's game. Is Patrick Graham, his defensive coordinator, next?
If he changes quarterbacks and has Aidan O’Connell or Kenny Pickett replace the ineffective Geno Smith, does it result in more wins when the porous offensive line can’t block for whoever is taking the snap and the run game remains virtually nonexistent?
Smith was sacked 10 times, though it was really 11 (one was negated by a penalty in the third quarter), which would’ve tied the team record for sacks allowed in a game. He’s unable to consistently connect with his receivers. Tight end Brock Bowers, the Raiders’ best offensive weapon, has been rendered virtually useless because no one can get the ball to him due to the fact Smith doesn’t get enough time to do so.
“We had opportunities to make some big plays but we weren’t able to,” Carroll said. “We have to protect the quarterback better than we did.”
Duh!
But enough with the excuses and Smith saying he has to play better. And Carroll shouldn’t have to try and come up with explanations at this point. He needs to be realistic and see if some of these young guys John Spytek drafted can play at the NFL level.
At 2-9, what have you got to lose at this point?
“We evaluate every day at practice and we watch them work,” Carroll said of getting some of his rookies in. “Those guys will get their chance. Right now, we’re playing the guys we think give us the best chance to win.”
The remainder of the rocky road for the Raiders is at the Chargers next Sunday, followed by a home game against the Broncos, then at the Eagles, at the Texans, home to the Giants and home to the Chiefs to close things out. Even the notion of beating the Giants, who are 2-10, isn’t a gimme by any means.
No, when you’re struggling like the Raiders have been, if you’re Carroll, you’re just hoping that no one abandons ship and capitulates.
“The group in the room haven’t given up on each other,” he said. “I hope they haven’t given up on me.”
I haven’t seen any white flags yet. But a few more performances like Sunday’s and surrender could be inevitable.