Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Yeah, No

The Chargers got Jim Harbaugh as head coach, we got the Chargers' ex-GM whom we got fired after that blowout victory. 

The Chiefs are in the AFC Championship again, and the Broncos are not going to get worse under Sean Payton. 

I'm going to go on the record and say I'm not super optimistic about Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco building a powerhouse contender in the AFC West. 

We shall see, and I sure hope I'm wrong. This just feels to me like Davis making up for something (letting Bisaccia go) that he didn't have to make up for.

But just because the players love Pierce doesn't mean he's the best thing for the players, the scheming and the long-term prospects of building an elite team.

Maybe this is a Dan Campbell-type situation, a coach who can will and motivate the squad to the top. 

I sure hope so. 

Maybe I'm just jaded and worn out by all of Mark Davis's misses. But sorry, I'm just not feeling it. Please convince me that I'm wrong.



Sunday, January 07, 2024

Broncos Gameday Thread

What are the Raiders playing for today? Pride, clarity, a sign, a higher draft pick,the closing of a chapter or the opening of a new one? You tell me. 

Do you think Jimmy G. could have won us a game or two more and put us in the mix? Historically, the guy wins, even if it often doesn't look pretty. Or do you think it was correct to stick with AOC to the bitter end? Do we have our coach, or does the search officially begin tonight?

So many questions, and another season on the outside looking in, 'round and round we go and it's Groundhog Day again. GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Colts Gameday Thread

If everything were to break perfectly, the Raiders could still win the division. It's a massive longshot, but it says something (just imagine if we'd scored 3+ points against the Viking).

But first things first. Beat the Colts, then worry about the "coulds" and "what ifs." A lot to ponder from this season, but for the moment, GO RAIDERS!

Monday, December 25, 2023

Chiefs Gameday Thread: Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas 'ya filthy animals! 

Seriously, you are the heart and soul of RaiderTake and I appreciate you. May your holiday be blessed.

All I want under the tree is a victory over the Chiefs. GO RAIDERS!

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Chargers Gamenight Thread

Mark Davis is lucky that the Chargers are cheap and inept, otherwise we'd be at rock bottom in the AFC West in terms of our near-term prospects. 

While we were screwing around with Josh McDaniels, the Broncos pivoted more quickly on their mistake and snagged Sean Payton. Now we not only have to contend in our division with a near dynasty with the Chiefs, but also with a Broncos head coach who seems to know a thing or two about winning and quick turnarounds. 

Antonio Pierce was minty fresh after the stink that McDaniels left behind. But are we sure that he's the right operational talent to go toe to toe with Andy Reid and Sean Payton for the next five years? Do we feel that Aiden O'Connell might soon stand equal in ability to the other three current starting QBs in our division? 

If the answer is no, then you have the answers you need when it comes to approaching the offseason.

For now, it's time for the Raiders play for respect and pride after getting shut out (!) by the Vikings and blowing the last chance of a longshot Wild Card bid. 

In a weird way, with no real stakes at hand, this still feels like a must win. 

GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Vikings Gameday Thread

It’s safe to say that the Raiders slim playoff hopes hang in the balance today. Might as well win and keep the dream alive. Go Raiders!

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Chiefs Gameday Thread

Well, this is a big test. If O'Connell can learn from his mistakes and minimize turnovers, we could steal one. Ya never know! GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Dolphins Gameday Thread

 Solid first half, keeping it close, this would be a statement! GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Jets Gamenight Thread

Do we have the beginnings of a new era in the works? Possibly. A should-win against the lowly Jets is a perfect litmus test. GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, November 05, 2023

Giants Gameday Thread

 A new era begins today, let's enjoy the minty fresh feeling and see where it takes us. GO RAIDERS!

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

The End Is The Beginning

Well, the McDaniels / Ziegler "era" is over, like a runaway train that jumped the tracks early and went up in flames. 

Kudos to Mark Davis for pulling the plug early despite the cost. 

However, this just sets us up for more folly from Mark Davis unless he FINALLY gets his shit together. His grace period as owner has long expired. He owns ALL of this: the poor results, the coaching and GM carousel, the awful drafting, the perennial chaos. All of it. 

Say it out loud: The owner's last two head coaching hires were Jon Gruden on a TEN year contract and Josh McDaniels. He gave Gruden the power to bring in a TV analyst as a puppet GM, and Ziegler hasn't been any better at drafting. 

First order of business: Stop the nostalgia! All of it. Gruden was nostalgia. The Raiders have been obsessed with the Patriots going back to Al Davis, which is why we ended up with McDaniels and Ziegler. Reggie McKenzie, another nostalgia pick. 

Stop looking into the rear-view mirror and start looking through the windshield. 

Copy and paste this list of Raiders head coaches and work your way backwards over the past 15 years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Las_Vegas_Raiders_head_coaches

Look at that list! Makes me want to wash my eyes out with Comet.

Mark Davis needs to get smarter, fast, like right now. Do better, pick the right GM and coach, have a vision, create an identity, build a culture and execute and stop the chaos. 

Anything less will be just more of the same.



Monday, October 30, 2023

Lions Gamenight Thread

The arrow is not pointing up for the Raiders or Josh McDaniels. I'm afraid that a loss tonight would mean getting stuck with the proverbial fork.

This all starts at the top with Mark Davis, I'm afraid. You just can't be in this situation year after year after year, coach after coach after coach, etc. 

Mark Davis hasn't figured out the coaching position, the GM position or the quarterback position during the entirety of his ownership tenure, and he is the head of an organization that has made a sport of laughably bad and awkward draft picks.

This isn't being negative. It's being honest. There's a difference. 

There's only one thing to do now, beat the Lions and turn this sorry ship around. 

GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Bears Gameday Thread

This is such a perfect test for this team, at this time. An obvious should-win game against the lowly Bears helmed by Tyler Bagent (!). A chance to get to 4-3 and keep momentum. A loss? That would be very telling. Just win, baby! GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Patriots Gameday Thread

 Good for Jimmy and Jacoby! Go raiders!

Monday, October 09, 2023

Packers Gamenight Thread

Well, this game just feels pivotal for some reason. An odd numbered game that sparks the transition from early season to mid season. 

You go to 1-4 and things start to look pretty dark. You claw back to 2-3 and glimmers of hope begin to shine.

The Packers with Jordan Love are beatable. It's time for the Raiders to RISE UP and seize the momentum. GO RAIDERS!

P.S. Also, a FAVOR you can do me. I just paid the annual fee for domain hosting and associated things for RaiderTake.com. If you could periodically do your Amazon shopping via the "Badasses" book link to the right, that would be much appreciated and help me defray the costs of keeping this site going. You don't have to buy that book! You just need to enter Amazon via that ad link, and then Amazon gives me a small kickback on any purchases you make from there. It's wholly private and I don't see anything personal, it's just a basic affiliate program, thanks! 

Sunday, October 01, 2023

Chargers Gameday Thread

 Well, I'm late to this one, it's halftime, but let's face it, it's over. GO RAIDERS? 

UPDATE: Well, it WASN'T over, that is until McDaniels THREW the ball with first and goal and Josh Jacobs on his team and a rookie QB.

This is getting into fireable territory between last week and this one.

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Steelers Gamenight Thread

A winnable game, a chance to keep pace with the Chiefs atop the standings of the AFC West, time to show up and make it happen. GO RAIDERS!

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Bills Gameday Thread

 Halftime take, not looking good. There’s still time, GO RAIDERS!