Most Raiders fans have given up on the 2024 season, but it was week 11 when any remaining dreamers probably gave up on the team for the year. A bye in week 10 was looked upon as the chance to recharge, reset and come back fighting to salvage a season that had mostly gone horribly wrong.
The Raiders kept the Dolphins close until well into the second half, but another fourth quarter collapse meant another loss, a 2-8 record, and a case for the Raiders to be the worst team in the NFL.
In reality, any thoughts of betting on the Super Bowl this year with the Raiders were dead by October, and every indication is the organization is already looking ahead to next year.
The first big decision will come in January, and it will involve the fate of head coach Antonio Pierce.
A new head coach coming?
There is an argument to be made for Pierce, but his odds of keeping his job are dropping with every loss. The team is still playing hard for Pierce, but there simply isn’t enough talent on the roster to compete.
Pierce has struggled in game and clock management situations, and those issues have dated back to last year when he was the interim head coach.
Even if the Raiders beat the hapless Jaguars or Saints in the next two weeks, Pierce needs to show improvement in the way he handles the clock and show a show a willingness to occasionally be aggressive in his decisions.
Who will be the next quarterback?
The top priority for the organization in the offseason will be finding a new quarterback.
The Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew experiments haven’t worked, and there has never been more pressure on the organization to find a franchise quarterback.
There has been plenty of talk around Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but it’s starting to feel like the Raiders will need the first overall pick to get Sanders.
Is a massive rebuild in the works?
It feels like we are looking at several years of rebuilding. And yet, it can sometimes be the case that teams can rebuild quicker than many thought.
Most certainly, we have seen examples of teams surprising us this season, going better than most expected. And we might argue that a team like the Raiders can take inspiration from that, knowing that predictions count for nothing when the season gets going.
To illustrate that point, let’s take three teams whose Super Bowl odds were equal to or lower than the Raiders’ before the season began. Yet, these teams defied the odds, and they have left themselves with a shot at the playoffs as the season concludes:
Washington Commanders
Yes, the Commanders eventually slowed down after starting the season on a hot streak, yet they still have a shot at the playoffs. The Commanders started the season placing 28th in NFL Power Rankings (the Raiders were 23rd if you were wondering), but they have kept plugging away and are in sight of the playoffs. They will not win the Super Bowl, but they turned things around quickly, which should be a lesson for everyone.
Denver Broncos
While they were never going to win the AFC West when the Chiefs are still doing the business, the Broncos have claims on being the most-improved team in the NFL and this season’s top surprise package. They were priced at +25000 to win Super Bowl LIX at the start of the season – only the Panthers had higher odds. Again, that looks unlikely to happen, but the fact they are in the playoff mix at all is a minor miracle.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings’ Super Bowl odds were closely matched to the Raiders’ preseason, with both teams available at around +8000. Since then, the two teams have gone on completely different trajectories, with the Vikings constantly defying the critics by racking up wins. Again, we don’t think they have enough to make it count in the playoffs, but they deserve to be there.
Seattle Seahawks
Like the Vikings, the Seahawks were lumped beside the Raiders with massive Super Bowl odds. They have mainly flown under the radar all season, yet they have a good chance of going to the playoffs. Things really started to turn around for them in early November, and if things stay on the same trajectory, they should have plenty of momentum going into the playoffs in January.
So many needs. And looking at either of the two “best” Q’s in this draft aren’t 1st round worthy. The OL needs to be rebuilt. The DL needs to be rebuilt. Sam Darnold in a system he can run is the best option and trade back and accumulate picks. But Telesco isn’t the guy that should be doing the picking. Mayock was Gruden’s fall guy. Bring back Bisaccia and Mayock.