Evaluating Raiders' Offense at the Bye Week

The Las Vegas Raiders' offense has had some good moments as the Silver and Black head into the bye week.
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After a 31-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Las Vegas Raiders head into the bye week with a 5-7 record and an outside shot at the playoffs.

The Raiders can use the bye week to evaluate where they are as a team and how they want to proceed for the rest of the season.

Last month, the Raiders moved on from Coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Ziegler. They promoted Antonio Pierce to interim coach and Champ Kelly to interim general manager. Those two have since had the opportunity to audition for those positions full-time.

Since then, the Raiders have done some good things on both sides of the ball and they are 2-2 since Pierce took over.

Offensively, Pierce decided to move forward with rookie Aidan O’Connell at quarterback, making a change from veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who had thrown for 1,205 yards with seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

There has been a slight increase in scoring since then, as the Raiders have scored 15.6 points per game in games Garoppolo started and 18.3 in games O’Connell has started. O’Connell has passed for 1,194 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions in six appearances. 

The Raiders can use the rest of the season to evaluate whether O’Connell is their future quarterback. He must take care of the football and remain accurate in the pocket if he wants to be the long-term answer for the Silver and Black.

The Raiders rank 31st in the NFL with 79 rushing yards per game. They need to get Josh Jacobs going and establish the run to keep their season alive coming out of the bye week. 

Jacobs has improved as the season has progressed, posting 20 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs. He has 661 yards and five touchdowns this season.

The Raiders have gotten good production out wide receivers. Davante Adams has been excellent and reliable, with 741 yards and four touchdowns. Free agent acquisition Jakobi Meyers has been worth every penny with 512 yards and five touchdowns.

Meyers has become one of the league's most reliable No. 2 receivers this season, often getting open for first-down receptions and making big plays after the catch. The Raiders also have seen flashes from rookie Tre Tucker, who could see an increase in snaps down the season's stretch.

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has been essential for their offense.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has been essential for their offense / Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders could utilize their tight ends more in the last few games of the season, as they have combined for only 363 yards and one touchdown this season. Rookie Michael Mayer has shown flashes of what the Raiders expected him to be when they selected him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and like Tucker, he could see increased snaps and targets from now on this season.

The Raiders have gotten excellent play from left tackle Kolton Miller when he has been healthy, and he has developed into one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL in recent years. They have also gotten good play from guard Greg Van Roten and tackle Thayer Munford.

Keeping those three healthy, along with center Andre James and guard Dylan Parham, will be key for the Raiders as they look to develop those five into their future offensive line.

The Raiders do not rank highly in many offensive categories, but have shown flashes of being a good offense. Fueled by their youth, the Raiders might benefit from giving some of their younger players more opportunities, giving them the chance to audition for the future.

The rest of this season can be used to build their core and see if O’Connell is the quarterback they want to lead the team for many years. 

The Silver and Black will return home to Allegiant Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 10, at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST.

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Carter Landis
CARTER LANDIS

Carter Landis studied journalism at Michigan State University where I graduated in May of 2022. He currently is a sports reporter for a local television station, and is a writer covering the Las Vegas Raiders