by Scott Davis Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were unfortunately the single AFC West team that lost in the season opener. To top it off it was an ineffectual effort that surprised many of those who have given the Raiders big props going into the 2015 season. They lost big by a score that was an accurate reflection that mirrored true gravity of the final outcome. The final score was 33-13 on the Raider’s home turf against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. The Raiders fielded a team and coaching staff that bore a striking resemblance to the 2014 Raiders. Not good. The last thing they need is to be faced early on with the rants about them being the worst team with the worst record this early in the season. It’s much too early to jump ship but let’s briefly look at what happened. The Raiders did not, by any means, battle a strong opponent in the grand scheme of the entire league but nevertheless you would have thought so. They were playing at home and got their arses handed to them.
The team as a whole performed poorly. Neither the offense nor the defense showed signs of life…More like they needed life support. On the positive side they were given a hoard of in-your-face things that need to be worked on. And the fixes have to happen quickly as they take on the Ravens this weekend.
The defensive line fell way short of what they are capable of. What gives? Whatever it is it could not have been a pleasant week at the Raiders practice facility. Raider running back Latavius Murray failed to shine and has to step up in a big way in game two and beyond. Some are saying they just need to find their rhythm. Well that’s what the preseason is for. We saw plenty of teams who have rhythm to spare coming out of game one. It will not be a good place to be should the Raiders fall to 0-2 right of the bat and struggling to rise from the bottom of the barrel so soon. The mental state of the team has a big impact going forward and this team, with plenty of new faces, can’t afford not to gel as soon as possible. If they don’t it could get ugly fast as the season rolls on.
The rest of the AFC West looked pretty darn good in week one and the Broncos won again last night taking their 2015 season to 2-0. Bam
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were unfortunately the single AFC West team that lost in the season opener. To top it off it was an ineffectual effort that surprised many of those who have given the Raiders big props going into the 2015 season. They lost big by a score that was an accurate reflection that mirrored true gravity of the final outcome. The final score was 33-13 on the Raider’s home turf against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. The Raiders fielded a team and coaching staff that bore a striking resemblance to the 2014 Raiders. Not good. The last thing they need is to be faced early on with the rants about them being the worst team with the worst record this early in the season. It’s much too early to jump ship but let’s briefly look at what happened. The Raiders did not, by any means, battle a strong opponent in the grand scheme of the entire league but nevertheless you would have thought so. They were playing at home and got their arses handed to them.
The team as a whole performed poorly. Neither the offense nor the defense showed signs of life…More like they needed life support. On the positive side they were given a hoard of in-your-face things that need to be worked on. And the fixes have to happen quickly as they take on the Ravens this weekend.
The defensive line fell way short of what they are capable of. What gives? Whatever it is it could not have been a pleasant week at the Raiders practice facility. Raider running back Latavius Murray failed to shine and has to step up in a big way in game two and beyond. Some are saying they just need to find their rhythm. Well that’s what the preseason is for. We saw plenty of teams who have rhythm to spare coming out of game one. It will not be a good place to be should the Raiders fall to 0-2 right of the bat and struggling to rise from the bottom of the barrel so soon. The mental state of the team has a big impact going forward and this team, with plenty of new faces, can’t afford not to gel as soon as possible. If they don’t it could get ugly fast as the season rolls on.
The rest of the AFC West looked pretty darn good in week one and the Broncos won again last night taking their 2015 season to 2-0. Bam