The Las Vegas Raiders may not have the worst record in the NFL right now, even after losing 26-14 to the Lions on Monday Night Football. But the now-3-5 team is up there with the most dysfunctional squads in the league.
Very little went right for the Raiders on Monday. Their defense fought valiantly but their offense was so off-kilter, they didn't stand a chance.
Who is to blame?
3. The whole offensive line
Few teams win games when their offensive line gives up six sacks. The Raiders have an issue at quarterback that will be discussed momentarily, but the fact is a QB change will only fix so much. That's because the line in front of whoever is behind center will have defenders in his face at every turn.
The offensive front actually performed admirably in the run game. They cleared the way for Josh Jacobs to gain 61 yards on 15 carries. Averaging 4.4 yards per carry against that Lions run defense isn't too shabby.
However, Las Vegas fell behind 16-7 at halftime and had to press with the passing attack. That went very, very poorly.
If the Raiders want to win games, they need a whole lot more from the offensive line.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo was 10-of-21 for 126 yards and an interception returned for a touchdown. He took six sacks. And none of that was the most benchable offense he committed on Monday night.
Davante Adams had just one catch for 11 yards, and it wasn't because he couldn't get open. He got open. A lot. And Garoppolo missed him. A lot.
The star wide receiver was seen on the sideline throwing his helmet to the turf in anger and letting loose a string of expletives. Who could blame him? The quarterback didn't give him a chance. The Raiders' leading receiver was running back Josh Jacobs with two catches for 27 yards. That's it!
And when Garoppolo did throw Adams' way, it came in the form of an awful throw into double coverage.
Garoppolo was flat-out terrible. Sure, his offensive line didn't give him much help, but Brian Hoyer and Aidan O'Connell combined to give up one sack behind that same offensive line last week against the Bears. It's not just the line. It's on the quarterback to read the defense, to get the ball out quickly or to extend the play. Jimmy G isn't doing any of that.
1. Josh McDaniels
Yeah, the offensive line was bad. The quarterback was terrible. But the buck stops with the head coach because it's his offense that's taking the Raiders out of games.
The Lions put up 486 yards but the defense was the only reason LV ever had a chance in the game. They held Detroit to field goals for most of the first half.
After giving up a late touchdown right before halftime, they came back out in the third quarter and Marcus Peters returned an interception for a touchdown to draw back within two. They even got the ball back on the next drive via a fumble! How did the Raiders' offense repay them? With a three-and-out, a four-and-out and two drives ending in turnovers on downs.
Josh McDaniels' offense managed just one touchdown for the second week in a row. And the one they scored last week was in garbage time. The Raiders offense has scored three touchdowns in the last three weeks. The Raiders defense has scored two touchdowns in that same span.
When asked how to fix the Raiders offense, Josh Jacobs said, "That ain't my job," per Case Keefer of the Las Vegas Sun.
It's McDaniels' job and he's doing a bad job at it.
