Texans Gameday Thread
Not sure how hard I should root if they're trying to tank, but you can still lose while showing some pride and progress, two things that have been sorely lacking lately. Nevertheless, GO RAIDERS!*
*But NOT ANOTHER PENNY
posted by Raider Take at 1:36 PM
28 Comments:
Geno Smith threw a pick-six. Raiders look horrendous, again. You'd think after an entire season of stinking up the league the Raiders would at least try and be unconventional and make something happen. Geno Smith is a terrible QB. He can't even carry the team for one game. He's not worthy of returning. Coaches continued to roll out the same failed system thinking it will somehow work.
Texans are halfway to covering the spread.
Raiders D has kept the Raiders in this game. Jeanty and Bowers has made it interesting for the offense. Texans came out flat. If Geno had any football presence/awareness, we might actually be good. Need a franchise QB.
Jeanty with a TD Run, beautifully done too. That after Geno runs out of bounds to take a 9 yard loss rather than throwing it away. I swear Geno jas no football awareness
Jeanty, Bowers, Mendoza. Entertaining game. Sandy
Was worried we might blow it and win this game. I actually hate thinking like this but it is what it is.
Legit happy for Jeanty, haven’t seen him smile like that in weeks. Think we’ll be glad we have him once we add a QB and bolster the O line.
Texans fell asleep and the Raiders made a show of it. Carroll is desperately trying to win to save his job, just like Pierce did last year. Now I'm concerned the Raiders will do something really stupid and win one or both of their finally games. The Raiders can only help themselves by packing it in... a lesson Mark Davis has not figured out. Raiders win one or both remaining games (coupled with Carroll's refusal to take a buyout) and we may be doomed to see the same shitshow next year.
Plus, media are reporting that Tom Brady will be MORE involved this off-season. Like last year's debacle wasn't enough.
Based on history, the Raiders prefer to cling to waning coaches and fire them mid-season. That list is long... and should have included Pete Carroll this year.
I actually thought this was the best game the Raiders played all year, but I'm glad they lost it !
Interesting dilemma, if Carroll knew he would be back next year, he might be more, all in on the tanking. He would stand to benefit next season with top pick.
However, if Carroll feels he will not return, it could make tanking more difficult, as he will be trying to win final two games to prove his worth.
Next game vs Giants should be ugly super bowl of losers, trying to lose. Personally, I hope Raiders don't score a point the last two games. This is what it comes down to in today's NFL....LOSE, LOSE, LOSE !!!!!!
It would be just like the Raiders to win a game to finish the season. That's what perennial losers do, i.e., lose all year when it matters then win when they could help themselves in draft slotting.
Mark Davis could solve the problem immediately. Fire Carroll.
Somebody needs to take charge and get the Raiders out of the abyss. Otherwise, it's just lather, rinse and repeat.
For sure the Raiders are going to win one if not both of their next two games LOL. Anyway it was great to see Jeanty go off he's very talented. Sandy
It's fair to say 15 games is a sizable sample. The results are in. Pete Carroll was not the right guy at the right time for the Raiders. All that's left is for the powers that be to see and act on what is painfully obvious. Carroll can't possibly be available to the Raiders for the rebuild that needs to happen. Even if we thought he could help, it's misguided to think Carroll can simply "hand off" to another coach to finish the job. That's not how it works. No decent HC would even entertain that.
A new HC saying "we'll take it from here" means we intend to revamp your entire roster, just like Carroll and every Raiders head coach that preceded Carroll did. They all said they would build on what their predecessor left them, but none of them did.
This thing is fluid right now. Draft slotting and resetting the head coach and coordinators is critical. Smart money is on the Raiders screwing it up. That's what they do. It will take unconventional wisdom or an act of God for them to get it right for the first time in 23 years.
Two playoff games, zero playoff wins in 22 years... for a team that won three SBs and was once known as the winningest team in all of pro sports. The team that held the best record on MNF. Now MNF for the Raiders usually means national embarrassment.
Shame on Mark Davis, Pete Carroll and everyone who touched the 2025 team. It wasn't just an anomaly for a team in need. It was a complete failure at every level of development, management and coaching.
If ever there was a time to go scorched earth with this team, it's now. There are maybe three players worth protecting on a future roster. Crosby, Bowers and Jeanty. Even that is questionable, due to the timing.
NYR,....I would just say that, while I agree with your overall points, If Carroll does return next season, and has a young Qb like, Mendoza, it will make a difference.
Add to that a competent, NFL level OC, and some WR's, and improved 0-line. It doesn't take much to turn it around. Huge mistakes were made this past off season. I believe it was because the many cooks, MD, Brady, Spytek, and Carroll, were all mixing in their own ingredients into what turned out to be a horrible stew. No one on the same page.
If this group stays in place, they have to ask themselves, what is the shared vision. And, can they all agree on it. Time will tell.
" I believe it was because the many cooks, MD, Brady, Spytek, and Carroll, were all mixing in their own ingredients into what turned out to be a horrible stew. No one on the same page." - in other words, classic Mark Davis, leadership optimized for failure.
Precisely RT that's why I don't blame Carol entirely whoever's coach next year needs a lot more freedom. Sandy
Ghost, I agree Carroll can be better, but is that good enough, and will he just hand over the mantle to another coach who will play Carroll's schemes with essentially the same personnel? I wish I could say they would, but this isn't a relay race. You'd need to find a coach with no ego. Otherwise, it's another "fresh start" and yet another HC whose schemes don't match the previous HC. How many times do we need to see it to believe it?
Sandy, I don't blame Carroll "entirely" either. 2025 was a perfect storm of everyone going in opposite directions. Media say Carroll didn't even pick Kelly to be OC. Brady had too much involvement, now he wants more.
The 2025 Raiders might be the worst case of oil and water in pro sports history... and that's saying something. Al Davis and Lane Kiffin have nothing on the 2025 Raiders.
As long as the Raiders keep mixing bad ingredients, they will continue to get bad results. What blows my mind is, they don't see it. They continue to make the same stupid mistakes, and they have no idea.
So, yeah, Pete Carroll probably can be better with a rookie like Mendoza. Maybe we can rise to 6-11 next year and carry that to 9-8 the following season. Then what?
Derek Carr was with the Raiders for 10 seasons and probably had 6-8 head coaches and as many OCs. Is that the path we want to send our next rookie QB.
Retaining Pete Carroll with two years left on his contract would be like winning the final two games of this season. Empty calories... which lead to bad diet, then chronic illness. That's where the Raiders live. It's a world which Mark Davis is ecstatic to win the last game and doesn't realize he just dropped 5 draft spots. He's like a little kid playing with a toy until he breaks it, then whining that it's broken.
The Raiders are a broken franchise.
Sorry for the rant. I just lost my FFB playoffs because of friggin' Brock Purdy, so I'm a little edgy.
Here's a big part of the problem outside of Pete Carroll. If Brady had confidence in John Spytek and that's why he fired Telesco to hire Spytek, then he should let Spytek build the team how he sees fit. Same with Pete Carroll. Don't tell these guys what OC to hire and tell them not to draft Shedeur Sanders... only to use two of the next three picks on rookie QBs. These guys collectively have their heads up their butts.
We just witnessed perhaps the dumbest chain of events in Raiders history. Again, that's saying a lot when you consider debacles like JaMarcus Russell, Lane Kiffin, Art Shell II, Mike Shanahan, Josh McDaniels and so many others.
Congrats to Maxx and Brock on making the Pro Bowl. Happy holidays to everyone Sandy
My advice to Raiders come Sunday's game vs Giants.
If Giants fumble, don't pick it up. if Dart throws ball right at a Raiders DB, just drop it. Try to commit a penalty on every play. Tell Geno to throw some of his "pick 6's".
If Raiders were smart, Crosby, Bowers, and Jeanty, should sit out final two games with, "injuries". IF THEY WERE SMART !!!
I'm not asking the Raiders to do things they haven't done all season. Just don't stop now, and amp it up even more. "Just lose baby" !!!
Go all in for Mendoza, let nothing stop you!
Sound advice.
Knowing the Raiders, they will screw it up. We've watched them screw up opportunities for two-plus decades, but none like this year. A year which they brought in the most accomplished head coach to start his tenure with the organization, who promised us the "Raiders will win lots of games." He even changed the Raiders mantra, telling everyone "it's time comPETE." (Maybe just because he liked seeing his name in the slogan.)
Even the Chiefs helped out! They were eliminated from the playoffs before the end of the season, and the Broncos are not nearly as good as their record. What more could the Raiders ask for?
But here we sit on Christmas Eve (and a warm Merry Christmas to all), wondering if the Raiders can pull off the most coveted "booby prize" in pro sports, i.e., the #1 pick in the draft. And it looks like there could be a legit QB to be had with that pick.
All they have to do is follow Ghost's simple advice. Man up and "drop the ball." Should be easy, right? They've been doing it all season. Nobody will suspect a thing.
Alternately, waiting until Week 16-17 to show the Raiders can be good against the other bad teams in the league is nothing short of pathetic.
But here we go. Welcome to the Raiders insanity.
From Lincoln Kennedy
"As for what changed against the Texans, Kennedy said the coaching staff in Las Vegas got away from some of the zone blocking schemes they have utilized all season."
While I prefer not to take a bow for calling out failure, file that one under "I told you so." I've been complaining about Carroll's ZBS since Day 1. Linemen have looked confused all season. Raiders did not have the personnel to run ZBS when Carroll arrived and they did nothing to change that heading into this season.
Kennedy went on to say the Raiders have some big guys to push defenders off the ball. No crap! Again, what I've been saying all season.
ZBS has failed the Raiders every time it's been implemented. If anyone in the building had eyes, they would have known it before it became a problem. If Carroll stays and insists on running ZBS, he will need to revamp the entire line. Conversely, if Raiders go back to power blocking, they may only need to plug and play (probably need to replace Parham and put JPJ back at center).
This isn't rocket science. It's more like watching paint dry... in the rainforest.
Brock Bowers just got put on IR maybe the Raiders won't win the last two games. Sandy
Raiders are trending in right direction. Bowers is half the offense and really the only unstoppable force the Raiders have. With Bowers out, Giants can stack the box on Jeanty. He's my fantasy RB2 and I am vying for 3rd place ($$) but this is way more important to me. Raiders need the #1 pick to make the best possible choice, be it QB or other.
On the other side of the ball, Carroll plays way too much zone coverage. "Cover 3" thing that he clings to like no other coach. Just like the offense, the defense can be much better with better coaching and more diverse scheme.
Cheers!
Crosby is being benched the last two games and got so pissed off about it he left the building. Sandy
Crazy! Does Crosby have an injury? Last time they pulled this shit Derek Carr was chased out of the building. Mark Davis has Crosby's back... I think.
Or are the Raiders truly making a run for the #1 pick? It seems like an act of desperation, assuming Crosby thinks he should play. They should put Pickett back in to finish the season.
It's ugly no matter what they do.
Crosby was listed with a knee injury. Giants have already ruled out five guys, and have several others listed as questionable. Nobody wants to win this game.
SS reporter
This is a disgrace? Did you know there is a board running Raiders? A bunch of execs and business people. So. Good football men and good execs can build a winner not a lot of other teams decent, but not great execs and old nfl people Maki g decisions for MD
Crosby is having knee surgery, hopefully a speedy recovery. Sandy
As bad as the Raiders are, and have been for a long time, they wouldn't be the same without Crosby (if he ever got traded). He optimizes what we wish the Raiders could do as a team. He is a true warrior and a throwback to what the Raiders used to be... respected and feared.
Tanking 101
Today game is a battle to the bottom. I'm concerned that the Giants want to tank more than the Raiders do, and certainly more than Pete Carroll, who still thinks he has something to prove this season. Or Mark Davis who gets gratification from the smallest and most meaningless victories.
For anyone who has argued in the past that teams do not tank, this game might reveal the truth. The Giants have no shame. Looks like they have sidelined half their roster.
The Raiders and Giants have two wins each, but there are many teams with three wins. If the Raiders win even one more game, they will get thrown into a crowded field of teams vying for a franchise QB. If Mendoza is the real deal, the Raiders can't afford that. On the other hand, if they openly tank games, the NFL could actually take the pick from them. Tanking is bad for business, and potentially a legal liability from those who rely on games, e.g., ticket sellers, broadcasters, bookmakers, etc. But tanking is next to impossible to prove. Tanking equals miss tackles on defense, maybe a fumble or INT on offense. Raiders have been doing that all season.
Beating a Giants team which wants to lose more than the Raiders or a Mahomes-less Chiefs team which has one foot out the door after their first losing season in memory, would be a mistake of epic proportion.
So what's it gonna be? What the Raiders do right now could impact them for years. Suffice to say, the ONLY victory the Raiders could have this season is losing their last two games. That might actually be worth the disastrous season they just put us through.
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