Joe Burrow gets the best of Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs to retake control of the AFC
In yet another highly anticipated matchup, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow outdueled Patrick Mahomes, throwing for three touchdowns in the Bengals 34-31 win over the Kansas City Chiefs to take the top seed in the AFC with a week left in the season.
The Bengals scored seventeen unanswered points, including the game winning field goal in overtime. Mahomes threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns but the overtime interception opened the door for the Bengals to complete the comeback win.
With the victory, Cincinnati now holds the tie breaker for the top seed in the AFC and need to just beat Cleveland -- without QB Deshaun Watson -- to earn a first round bye and home field throughout the playoffs. Kansas City now needs to beat the Los Angeles Chargers and have Cincinnati lose in order to retake the top seed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 17 NFL Results 19 - 21--------- 13 - 28--------- 14 - 28--------- 13 - 21 23 - 16 --------- 20 - 21--------- 31 - 37---------28 - 21 07 - 21--------- 07 - 30---------17 - 10 ---------24 - 14 28 - 13 ---------34 - 17 ---------34 - 31 ---------28 - 25 --------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFL Playoff Picture AFC
1. Cincinnati, 13-3 (clinched playoffs)
2. Kansas City, 13-3 (clinched AFC West)
3. Buffalo, 10-6
4. Tennessee, 9-7
5. Baltimore, 12-4 (clinched playoffs)
6. LA Chargers, 11-5 (clinched playoffs)
7. Pittsburgh, 11-5 (clinched playoffs)
-- Jacksonville, 9-7
-- NY Jets, 9-7
-- New England, 9-7
NFC
1. San Francisco, 15-1 (clinched top seed, NFC West)
2. Dallas, 11-5 (clinched NFC East)
3. Atlanta, 10-6 (clinched playoffs)
4. Detroit, 9-7
5. NY Giants, 9-7
6. New Orleans, 9-7
7. Seattle, 8-8
-- Chicago, 8-8
-- Philadelphia, 7-9
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Race for the No. 1 Pick
32. Washington, 2-14
31. Houston, 2-14 (Arizona owns the pick)
30. Green Bay, 3-13
29. Indianapolis, 3-13
28. Arizona, 3-13
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players of the Week QB Dak Prescott: 26 of 36, 277 yards, 4 touchdowns LB Terrell Edmunds: 11 tackles, interception QB Lamar Jackson: 19 of 24, 246 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11 carries, 52 yards LB Matt Milano: 11 tackles, interception
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Race CB Tyrique Stevenson: 77 tackles, 3 INT, 9 PBU DB Jartavius Martin: 80 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 INT, 6 PBU EDGE Tyree Wilson: 39 tackles, 10 TFL, 6.0 sacks, PBU CB Joey Porter Jr: 66 tackles, 2 INT, 7 PBU EDGE Will Anderson Jr: 50 tackles, 13 TFL, 2.0 sacks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Injuries G Teven Jenkins: Season (leg) G Andrew Norwell: Season (knee) DE Von Miller: Season (ankle) HB Nyheim Hines: Season (knee) LB Jonas Griffith: Season (knee) CB Patrick Surtain II: Season (groin) WR Tim Patrick: Season (Achilles) WR Jakeem Grant Sr.: Season (knee) QB Deshaun Watson: Season (knee) WR Donovan Peoples-Jones: Season (foot) C Ryan Jensen: Season (knee) WR Russell Gage Jr.: Season (knee) CB Jamel Dean: Season (finger) QB Kyler Murray: Season (knee) TE Zach Ertz: Season (ankle) WR Richie James: Season (hip) HB Jonathan Taylor: Season (knee) CB Jalen Ramsey: Season (knee) CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr: Season (knee) LB Jarrad Davis: Season (knee) S Chuck Clark: Season (knee) T Cam Robinson: Season (foot) WR Quintez Cephus: Season (tibia) CB Donte Jackson: Season (knee) TE Austin Hooper: Season (chest)
Jimmy Garoppolo to miss regular season finale with foot injury as Raiders playoff chances die on the vine
Even with their win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders' playoff hopes quickly ended as both Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Chargers won their respective week seventeen matchups, clinching the wild card spots and kicking the Raiders out the playoffs.
It added insult to injury as the Raiders would have been without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who suffered a foot injury against the Indianapolis Colts which would have likely sidelined him through the playoffs. The Raiders aren't expected to add Garoppolo to IR with just one game left in the season with Aidan O'Connell expected to get the start against Denver in the season finale with Brian Hoyer serving as the backup.
With nothing to play for, it bears monitoring how the Raiders will treat veterans such as receiver Davante Adams, running back Josh Jacobs, cornerback Marcus Peters and star edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
Jacobs is third in the NFL in rushing yards (1504), trailing Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley. Could the Raiders potentially play Jacobs, at home, in what could be his final game as a Raider in an effort to help him get back-to-back rushing titles? Adams is in a similar situation, trailing Cooper Kupp by a few yards for the receiving title.
Other milestones to watch for is rookie receiver Tre Tucker needing 98 yards to go over the 1,000-yard receiving mark while Jakobi Meyers needs seven more receptions to go over the 50 reception mark, which he's reached in each of the past three seasons with New England.
Week 18 Preview: vs. Denver Broncos
Record: 4-12, 4th AFC West
Head Coach: Sean Payton (156-101)
Offensive Coordinator: Joe Lombardi (Multiple Power Run)
Defensive Coordinator: Vance Joseph (3-4 Storm)
Team Leaders
Passing: Russell Wilson (68 cmp%, 3359 yards, 23 TD, 15 INT, 93.7 passer rating)
Rushing: Javonte Williams (1018 yards, 4.2 ypc, 5 TD)
Receiving: Jerry Jeudy (67 receptions, 846 yards, 4 TD)
Blocking: 28 sacks allowed
Defense: Zach Allen (72 tackles, 21 TFL, 7.5 sacks)
Injury Report CB Patrick Surtain II (IR - groin) WR Tim Patrick (IR - Achilles) CB K'Waun Williams (IR - finger) QB Jimmy Garoppolo (out - foot) WR Kristian Wilkerson (out - finger) TE Austin Hooper (IR - pectoral) T Thayer Munford Jr. (IR - ankle) HB Ameer Abdullah (IR - ribs) OLB David Anenih (IR - abdomen)
Aidan O'Connell leads comeback victory for Raiders over Broncos with two-point conversion
A game winning two-point conversion from Aidan O'Connell to Phillip Dorsett. No one had that on their bingo card at the start of training camp back in August.
In his first career start, Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell led two potential game winning drives in the final five minutes of the game, including a waved off touchdown on 4th and 2 only to come back and complete the deal with a 25-yard touchdown to rookie Tre Tucker and a two-point conversion to Dorsett to beat the Broncos 24-23 on Sunday afternoon for their tenth win of the season.
It was tough sledding at first for O'Connell who ended the first half with an incompletion on fourth down intended for Jakobi Meyers on 4th and two from the Denver 5-yard line.
The decision to go for it instead of tying the game would come back to bite the Raiders on the very first possession of the second half as the Raiders went three-and-out and Javonte Williams once again found the endzone, this time on a 1-yard touchdown after having scored a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the game in the first half.
The Raiders, who kept a light workload for their veterans including running back Josh Jacobs (no carries in the second half) and receiver Davante Adams (2 receptions, 48 yards), finally got something going in the fourth, getting to the Denver 34-yard line for a Daniel Carlson 51-yard field goal to make it a one possession game with 12:03 remaining.
After a three and out by the Broncos, the Raiders would go on their longest drive of the game which included thirteen plays, three third down conversions but on their fourth, O'Connell's pass to Meyers didn't gain any yards on 3rd and 2. The Raiders opted to go for it on a rollout play where O'Connell had some open receivers underneath but went for the touchdown to Meyers who failed to drag his second foot inbounds for the touchdown.
Denver would hand it off to Williams five straight times but on the second set of downs, he failed to pick up the first down and the Broncos would be forced to punt it with 1:51 remaining but had drained Las Vegas of their timeouts.
It didn't matter to O'Connell who completed back to back passes of 19 and 21 yards to Meyers before finding Michael Mayer underneath for the 11-yard pickup and after a dump off to Zonovan Knight for two yards to get the ball to the Denver 25-yard line, he went up top to Tucker for the 25-yard touchdown who got behind the defense and hung on to the ball despite the punishing hit from Riley Moss.
With nothing to lose or gain, the Raiders went for the win instead of the tie and on a play that looked broken from the start, O'Connell was able to find Dorsett for the touchdown in the midst of multiple Broncos defenders.
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1 Javonte Williams, 75 Yd run (14:49) Will Lutz, 51 Yd FG (9:12) Daniel Carlson, 19 Yd FG (1:35)
Quarter 2 Daniel Carlson, 39 Yd FG (12:15) Will Lutz, 35 Yd FG (8:45) Josh Jacobs, 3 Yd run (4:38) Will Lutz, 34 Yd FG (1:55)
Quarter 3 Javonte Williams, 1 Yd run (9:54)
Quarter 4 Daniel Carlson, 51 Yd FG (11:58) Tre Tucker 25 Yd pass from Aidan O'Connell -- 2pt (0:31)
QB Aidan O'Connell: 34 of 60, 380 yards, touchdown
HB Josh Jacobs: 12 carries, 70 yards, touchdown
HB Zamir White: 9 carries, 31 yards
WR Jakobi Meyers: 9 receptions, 114 yards
TE Michael Mayer: 7 receptions, 73 yards
WR Tre Tucker: 4 receptions, 62 yards, touchdown
WR Bo Melton: 3 receptions, 30 yards
WR Davante Adams: 2 receptions, 48 yards
LT Miller: 85.0 PPF grade | LG Parham: 58.6 PFF grade | C James: 13.0 PFF grade | RG van Roten: 54.1 PFF grade | RT Eluemunor: 70.3 PFF grade
S Marcus Epps: 7 tackles, tackle for loss (84.3 PFF grade)
LB Amari Burney: 6 tackles (86.3 PFF grade)
CB David Long Jr: 5 tackles (74.7 PFF grade)
CB Amik Robertson: 5 tackles (74.1 PFF grade)
CB Jakorian Bennett: 5 tackles (48.0 PFF grade)
LB Divine Deablo: 4 tackles (71.0 PFF grade)
LB Landon Collins: 4 tackles, tackle for loss (79.3 PFF grade)
LB Robert Spillane: 2 tackles (93.5 PFF grade)
QB Russell Wilson: 16 of 32, 243 yards
HB Javonte Williams: 23 carries, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 receptions, 35 yards
WR Marvin Mims Jr: 5 receptions, 57 yards
TE Greg Dulcich: 4 receptions, 55 yards
WR Jerry Jeudy: 3 receptions 52 yards
WR Courtland Sutton: 2 receptions, 44 yards
LB Alex Singleton: 13 tackles, tackle for loss
CB Riley Moss: 12 tackles, tackle for loss
CB Fabian Moreau: 10 tackles
LB Josey Jewell: 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
CB Kareem Jackson: 9 tackles, tackle for loss
Washington Commanders win the Caleb Williams Sweepstakes with loss, fire coaching staff
Sometimes a loss is a win. Especially if it earns you the opportunity to draft one of the NFL's most coveted draft prospects in history. Unless you're Ron Rivera.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera and the rest of his staff were immediately fired after the team's 28-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, their 15th loss of the season which clinched the top pick in the draft and the right to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
Back in October, it was reported that Williams would only play for the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants or the San Francisco 49ers. While the Commanders weren't listed, Williams is from the area and attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C. which should quell those rumors.
Rivera wasn't the only head coach fired on 'Black Monday' as the Broncos fired Sean Payton after just one season and both Matt Eberflus and Matt Lafleur were fired by Chicago and Green Bay respectively in the NFC North.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 18 NFL Results 35 - 14 --------- 14 - 21---------31 - 17 --------- 21 - 28 20 - 35---------33 - 21 --------- 24 - 27---------28 - 17 26 - 28---------24 - 21 --------- 23 - 24---------27 - 22 28 - 17 ---------17 - 03 --------- 10 - 16---------17 - 03 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFL Standings AFC North
1. Cincinnati, 14-3 z
2. Baltimore, 12-5 x
3. Pittsburgh, 12-5 x
4. Cleveland, 9-8
AFC South
1. Jacksonville, 10-7 y
2. Tennessee, 9-8
3. Houston, 3-14
4. Indianapolis, 3-14
AFC East
1. Buffalo, 11-6 y
2. NY Jets, 10-7
3. New England, 9-8
4. Miami, 6-11
AFC West
1. Kansas City, 14-3 y
2. LA Chargers, 11-6 x
3. Las Vegas, 10-7
4. Denver, 4-13
NFC North
1. Detroit, 10-7 y
2. Chicago, 8-9
3. Minnesota, 5-12
4. Green Bay, 4-13
NFC South
1. New Orleans, 10-7 y
2. Atlanta, 10-7 x
3. Tampa Bay, 7-10
4. Carolina, 6-11
NFC East
1. Dallas, 12-5 y
2. NY Giants, 10-7 x
3. Philadelphia, 7-10
4. Washington, 2-15
NFC West
1. San Francisco, 16-1 z
2. Seattle, 9-8 x
3. LA Rams, 6-11
4. Arizona, 3-14
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFL Wild Card Schedule
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
Seattle Seahawks (9-8) at Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-6)
Atlanta Falcons (10-7) at New Orleans Saints (10-7)
Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (10-7)
New York Giants (10-7) at Detroit Lions (10-7)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2024 NFL Draft Order
1. Washington
2. Arizona (via Houston)
3. Indianapolis
4. Green Bay
5. Arizona
6. Denver
7. Minnesota
8. Tampa Bay
9. Chicago (via Carolina)
10. Miami
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players of the Week QB Dak Prescott: 26 of 36, 277 yards, 4 touchdowns LB Terrell Edmunds: 11 tackles, interception QB Lamar Jackson: 19 of 24, 246 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11 carries, 52 yards LB Matt Milano: 11 tackles, interception
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Playoff Injuries G Andrew Norwell: Season (knee) T La'el Collins: Season (knee) DE Von Miller: Season (ankle) HB Nyheim Hines: Season (knee) WR Richie James: Out (hip) CB Trevon Diggs: Out (finger) LB Kaden Elliss: Out (toe) G Matt Hennessy: Season (knee) LB Bobby Okereke: Out (knee) LB Jarrad Davis: Season (knee) T Cam Robinson: Season (foot) TE Evan Engram: Out (wrist) WR Quintez Cephus: Season (tibia) WR Jameson Williams: Suspended T Penei Sewell: Out (ankle) WR Michael Thomas: Out (shoulder) OLB T.J. Watt: Out (finger) OLB Alex Highsmith: Out (ankle) LB Cole Holcomb: Out (arm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Transactions
Washington Commanders fire head coach Ron Rivera
Green Bay Packers fire head coach Matt Lafleur
Denver Broncos fire head coach Sean Payton
Chicago Bears fire head coach Matt Eberflus
A Season In Review: Plenty of questions, holes on the offense despite top ten finish
Despite being without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the last two games of the season, the Las Vegas Raiders still finished the year with a two game winning streak and their offense scoring at least 23 points in each of their seven games.
While the 23-point benchmark isn't a high one, the Raiders failed to reach that in three of their first four games of the season and two weeks later, scored just fifteen points in the 15-9 win over the Detroit Lions on Monday night in primetime.
The Raiders finished the season ranked ninth in scoring offense and top three in both passing and rushing offense. Yet, for anyone that watched Las Vegas play this season, there were plenty of problems on offense in the 2023 season and even more projecting into the 2024 season. A position by position breakdown:
Quarterback
Under Contract: Jimmy Garoppolo (31 yo, $28.5m cap hit), Aidan O'Connell (25 yo, $1.04m cap hit), Brian Hoyer (37 yo, $2.77m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: None
Notable Projected Free Agents: Baker Mayfield (28 yo, Tampa Bay), Jacoby Brissett (30 yo, Washington), Ryan Tannehill (35 yo, Tennessee)
It was another solid season for Jimmy Garoppolo who (almost) made it through the season healthy, playing sixteen games for the first time since 2019. While his completion percentage (59%) was the lowest since 2018, he threw for a career high 4,231 yards and his 25 touchdowns were the second most of his career in his first year with the Raiders and reunited with Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in New England.
Garoppolo's highs were certainly high with two 400+ yard games against Chicago and Kansas City but the lows were also pretty bad with poor performances against the Chiefs in week 16 (171 passing yards, 51% comp%) and three more games where he threw for less than 200 yards, not counting the game against Indianapolis where he got hurt.
While Garoppolo might not be the problem, it's still unclear if he's the solution for the Raiders if they want to make the playoffs and while Aidan O'Connell posted gaudy numbers in the regular season finale, it was against a bad Broncos team that fired their entire coaching staff and it took O'Connell 60 passes to throw for 380 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.
Running Back
Under Contract: Zamir White (23 yo, $1.17m cap hit), Brittain Brown (25 yo, $1m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Josh Jacobs (25 yo), Ameer Abdullah (30 yo), Zonovan Knight (22 yo), Brandon Bolden (33 yo), Austin Walter (27 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Damien Harris (26 yo, Buffalo), Austin Ekeler (28 yo, LA Chargers), Tony Pollard (26 yo, Dallas), Devin Singletary (25 yo, Houston)
Another offseason of speculation around what the Raiders are going to do with Josh Jacobs, who finished top three in rushing once again. The Raiders tried to see what they had in Zamir White this season but he was far from special, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and mainly serving as a short yardage back with five rushing touchdowns on the season.
It's not a matter of talent or production with Jacobs has he has plenty of it but the question remains what exactly is his value to an NFL team, particularly a team like the Raiders that aren't quite there yet in terms of competing for a Super Bowl. The Raiders still have the ability to tag Jacobs again in 2024. But the one-year price tag will be at least $14.16 million, a 20-percent raise of his salary in 2023.
Even with winning ten games, the Raiders didn't look that close to the top of the division when they played the Chargers and the Chiefs so if the front office believes they are, tagging Jacobs is certainly an option but if they believe that the ten wins were more fools gold and beating up on bad teams, it might be time to part ways with their leading rusher.
Wide Receiver
Under Contract: Davante Adams (30 yo, $25.4m cap hit), Jakobi Meyers (26 yo, $12.8m cap hit), Tre Tucker (22 yo, $1.2m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Phillip Dorsett II (30 yo), Bo Melton (24 yo), Kristian Wilkerson (26 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Chase Claypool (25 yo, Chicago), Gabriel Davis (24 yo, Buffalo), Donovan Peoples-Jones (24 yo, Cleveland), Marquise Brown (26 yo, Arizona), Calvin Ridley (28 yo, Jacksonville)
Davante Adams was again one of the NFL's best receivers, finishing second in receiving yards, seventh in receptions and tied for fifth in touchdowns. The Raiders also got some surprising production from third round pick Tre Tucker who was second on the team in receiving yards, narrowly missing the 1,000-yard mark after coming on in the second half of the season following the trade of Hunter Renfrow.
Jakobi Meyers had a down year in his first season with the Raiders as he was trying to establish a role with the team in conjunction with Renfrow, who is a similar player. Even with the Renfrow trade, Tucker emerged as the top slot option, kicking Meyers to play outside receiver which he can do but it's not his strong suit. Those same problems will exist next season but it remains to be seen if Meyers improves as an outside receiver.
He'll also have to fend off Bo Melton if the team brings him back and any other outside receivers that the Raiders could target with a strong free agency class at the position and also a loaded draft at receiver.
Tight End
Under Contract: Michael Mayer (22 yo, $2.08m cap hit), Brevin Jordan (23 yo, $1.06m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Austin Hooper (28 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Gerald Everett (29 yo, LA Chargers), Robert Tonyan (29 yo, Indianapolis), Noah Fant (25 yo, Seattle)
It took him a bit to get going but once Austin Hooper went down with an injury, rookie Michael Mayer really emerged as one of the better young tight ends in the NFL. He didn't have more than two receptions in a game prior to week seven but after catching six passes for 56 yards against the Bears, Mayer would put together ten straight games with at least two receptions and in eight of them, he had at least four receptions.
The Raiders also stumbled into a find in Brevin Jordan, who they traded for following the injury to Hooper for depth purposes and Jordan flashed, catching four passes for 80 yards against the Dolphins and scoring a touchdown in the Colts game.
With Mayer and Jordan, the Raiders have a solid 1-2 punch in the passing game but they desperately need a blocking tight end as neither are stout in that regard.
Offensive Tackle
Under Contract: Kolton Miller (27 yo, $15.7m cap hit), Thayer Munford Jr. (23 yo, $1.01m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Jermaine Eluemunor (28 yo), Justin Herron (27 yo), A.J. Jackson (25 yo), Yodny Cajuste (27 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Taylor Lewan (32 yo, Kansas City), Tyron Smith (32 yo, Dallas)
Perhaps the most glaring need on the entire team, the Raiders need to invest heavily at the position this offseason whether it's signing a veteran (or two) or spending a high pick on an offensive tackle, preferably both. Kolton Miller is a really good left tackle but at right tackle, it was not playoff caliber even with Herron stringing in some strong performances in Jermaine Eluemunor absence who was one of the worst offensive tackles in the league this past year.
Interior Offensive Line
Under Contract: Dylan Parham (24 yo, $1.4m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: C Andre James (26 yo), Greg Van Rotten (33 yo), Jordan Meredith (61 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Isaiah Wynn (27 yo, Miami), Jonah Jackson (26 yo, Detroit), Damien Lewis (26 yo, Seattle), Kevin Zeitler (33 yo, Baltimore), C Connor Williams (26 yo, Miami), C Jason Kelce (35 yo, Philadelphia)
The only thing worse than offensive tackle was the interior line play where there really wasn't any bright spot. Greg van Rotten struggled mightily in pass protection while Andre James and Dylan Parham didn't add much to the Raiders running game and weren't great in pass pro either.
Unlike offensive tackle where there is an anchor in Miller, this entire unit could use a makeover and the Raiders will have some options in free agency to revamp this offensive line. The big fish will be Jason Kelce, who is set to be a free agent. Even at 35, landing Kelce would help establish an identity on this offensive line, especially if they invest in some young guys in the draft and allow Kelce to mentor them.
Kellen Moore fired as Los Angeles Chargers OC following dud against Kansas City
Just one season into his tenure as offensive coordinator and play caller of the Los Angeles Chargers, former NFL quarterback Kellen Moore has been fired by the Chargers despite the team making the playoffs.
In back to back games against the Kansas City Chiefs, including the wild card round this past weekend, the Chargers scored a combined 27 points in those two games with Justin Herbert going 29 of 48 in those two games, well below his season and career average.
The dismissal came as a surprise to many as the Chargers finished top ten in scoring offense, passing offense and rushing offense.
For Herbert, one of the league's brightest stars, it will now be his third offensive coordinator in as many years as Joe Lombardi was fired at the end of last season along with quarterbacks coach Shane Day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- NFL Wild Card Results
Los Angeles Chargers 24 - 35 Kansas City Chiefs --- QB Justin Herbert: 221 passing yards, 2 TD --- WR Keenan Allen: 4 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TD --- QB Patrick Mahomes: 342 passing yards, TD --- HB Isiah Pacheco: 56 rushing yards, 2 TD
A Season In Review: Misleading numbers or is the proof in the pudding?
The Las Vegas Raiders finished ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring defense, 32nd in passing defense and 29th in rushing defense. The Raiders ultimately -- so far -- have decided to bring back the same defensive staff, led by Patrick Graham, for another season.
Whether loyalty or belief into Graham's coaching, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels is banking on Graham being able to turn around this unit in 2024. Graham's defense wasn't always bad this year, holding both Denver and Pittsburgh -- a playoff team -- to under thirteen points in the first three weeks of the season. The defense also held Detroit to just nine points in week 8 on Monday night but when it came to the top offenses, the Raiders struggled mightily.
Against Kansas City, Los Angeles and Buffalo, each team scored over 33 points with both Kansas City and the Chargers eclipsing 40 points in one of their matchups this past season. We know the defense can be good against lower competition but the lack of consistency against good to great offenses will need to be fixed in 2024. A position by position breakdown as they head into the offseason:
Interior Defensive Line
Under Contract: Jerry Tillery (26 yo, $4.18m cap hit), Byron Young (22 yo, $1.28m cap hit), Nesta Jade Silvera (23 yo, $940k cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Bilal Nichols (26 yo), Adam Butler (29 yo), Brandon Williams (34 yo), John Jenkins (34 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Calais Campbell (37 yo, Atlanta), Christian Wilkins (27 yo, Miami), Michael Pierce (30 yo, Baltimore)
A unit that could use a lot of work but has two solid pieces under contract in Jerry Tillery -- second on the team in sacks -- and Byron Young who showed flashes of being a disrupter this season. Bilal Nichols was a very good option opposite of Tillery but this feels like a position where the Raiders can certainly level up either in free agency or in the draft, especially if they're able to land the likes of a Christian Wilkins to be a dominant interior force against both the passing and running game.
While it's not a sexy position, the Raiders really need an upgrade at nose tackle as their run defense was atrocious this season, especially in situations where they needed to get off the field. Both John Jenkins and Brandon Williams are on the wrong side of 30 and Nesta Jade Silvera is probably best suited as a three-technique so expect the Raiders to invest in a nose tackle with a veteran in free agency as the college game isn't producing a ton of them.
EDGE
Under Contract: Maxx Crosby (26 yo, $24.5m cap hit), Tyree Wilson (23 yo, $5.68m cap hit), Malcolm Koonce (25 yo, $1.59m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Zach McCloud (25 yo), David Anenih (24 yo), Janarius Robinson (25 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Melvin Ingram (34 yo, Cincinnati), Justin Houston (34 yo, San Francisco), Jadeveon Clowney (30 yo, Baltimore), Kyle Van Noy (32 yo, Indianapolis)
The Raiders have invested heavily at the position with Maxx Crosby being the highest paid defender by a wide margin and spending a top pick on Tyree Wilson last season. Behind them, however, there isn't a ton of talent with Janarius Robinson, David Anenih and Malcolm Koonce not turning any heads with their talent nor performance, respectfully.
Crosby and Wilson are going to get the attention and the snaps but the Raiders could really use some more veterans in that room, the likes of Kyle Van Noy that provide some more versatility when it comes to setting the edge, rushing the passer and even dropping in coverage. Van Noy is 32 so ideally, this would come from a younger player but the Van Noy prototype is what the Raiders should target in free agency and the draft.
Inside Linebacker
Under Contract: Robert Spillane (27 yo, $4.3m cap hit), Divine Deablo (25 yo, $1.58m cap hit), Amari Burney (23 yo, $950k cap hit), Darien Butler (23 yo, $990k cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Landon Collins (29 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Lavonte David (33 yo, Tampa Bay), Bobby Wagner (33 yo, Seattle), Denzel Perryman (30 yo, Houston)
Counting stats don't tell the whole story and that's precisely the case at linebacker where Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo led the NFL in tackles but when you dig into the advanced numbers or the film, they were a focal point to the Raiders struggles in pass defense and down the stretch, became liabilities in the running game as well.
The Raiders probably asked too much of Deablo and Spillane, who played nearly every defensive snap until the regular season finale where Amari Burney and Landon Collins got more burn. In that game, Burney and Collins finished with 41 and 50 snaps while Deablo and Spillane played 23 and 18 snaps respectively. While those numbers likely need to be flipped, those types of splits is what the Raiders should be aiming for next season whether they bring Collins back or a similar player that can play on obvious passing downs.
Cornerback
Under Contract: Nate Hobbs (24 yo, $1.13m cap hit), Jakorian Bennett (23 yo, $1.12m cap hit)
Expiring Contracts: Marcus Peters (30 yo), David Long Jr. (25 yo), Amik Robertson (25 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Anthony Brown (29 yo, Chicago), Chidobe Awuzie (28 yo, Cincinnati), Byron Jones (30 yo, Arizona), Stephon Gilmore (32 yo, Dallas), Desmond King II (28 yo, Pittsburgh)
Similar to offensive line on offense, this room has the potential to look completely different next year with most of the position group on expiring deals. The Marcus Peters experiment was a solid one but it's time for the Raiders to move on and upgrade their top corner so that Nate Hobbs can slide into that CB2 role that he is more suited for.
They could also use an upgrade at nickel corner as Jakorian Bennett got exposed a few times this season when matched up with more explosive slot receivers. It's a strong class led by Stephon Gilmore who has some familiarity with the Raiders coaching staff dating back to their New England days and Desmond King II is one of the NFL's top nickel corners for the past decade or so so that's another name to watch.
Safety
Under Contract: Tre'von Moerhig (24 yo, $2.51m cap hit), Marcus Epps (27 yo, $7.29m cap hit), Christopher Smith II (23 yo, $970k)
Expiring Contracts: Roderic Teamer Jr. (26 yo)
Notable Projected Free Agents: Micah Hyde (32 yo, Buffalo), Tashaun Gipson Sr (33 yo, San Francisco), Jayron Kearse (29 yo, Dallas), DeShon Elliott (26 yo, Miami)
Not much to see here as Tre'von Moehrig and Marcus Epps were both solid players for the Raiders who will likely be starters next season. Behind them, however, the Raiders could level up with some more talented young guys in the draft or adding a more veteran backup the likes of a Duron Harmon or Logan Ryan, who also played in New England when McDaniels was there.
19 - 21 
---------
13 - 28 
---------
14 - 28 
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13 - 21 
23 - 16 
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20 - 21 
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31 - 37 
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28 - 21 
07 - 21 
---------
07 - 30 
---------
17 - 10 
---------
24 - 14 
28 - 13 
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34 - 17 
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34 - 31 
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28 - 25 
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CB Patrick Surtain II (IR - groin)
QB Jimmy Garoppolo (out - foot)
can't wait to see the moves