The Las Vegas Raiders are currently the only 0-3 team in the NFL, and they look to get their first win at home against a less-than-impressive Broncos team.
How important is this game?
Since 1990, only 2.5% of teams to start 0-3 have made the playoffs. The last team to do it was the Texans in 2018, who ended up losing in the Wild Card round. To put it simply, Davante Adams is right to feel “frustrated and angry” after the worst start in the NFL. But things only get worse if the Raiders lose. Only one team has ever made the playoffs after starting 0-4, and that is the 1992 San Diego Chargers. Simply put, this game is truly a ‘must-win’ for the Raiders. Looking at this team that started the last season 3-0, one has to wonder how adding one of the best wide receivers in the NFL could damage a team this much.
Who is to blame for the Raiders’ struggles?
Looking back at what has gone wrong for the Raiders, there are a couple of heads that can bear the blame for an 0-3 start. Hunter Renfrow fumbled the ball in overtime, which immediately led to a Week 2 loss against the Cardinals. Derek Carr threw four interceptions in his first three games while only completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing six touchdowns. The defense for giving up the eighth-most points per game in the NFL. The running backs for getting the fifth-least yards in the league.
While many of these take up pieces of the pie of blame, the largest slice goes directly on the head of the biggest change between this season and last – not Davante Adams; landing the best wide receiver in the league isn’t dropping you to the bottom of the standings – which would be the hiring of a new coach and former Bill Belichek assistant Josh McDaniels. While McDaniels was highly praised coming into the season, branches of the Belichick coaching tree don’t always bear the best fruit (think Matt Patricia, Bill O’Brien, Joe Judge).
Maybe the curse of Belichick’s proteges in the NFL will continue with Josh McDaniels, who couldn’t get the gears moving during his first gig as a head coach on the Broncos. However, only time will tell whether McDaniels will be able to get the Raiders in order, and in the win column.
What has to happen for the Raiders to win?
Despite their 2-1 record, the Broncos have begun their season on the wrong foot. Scoring the least points outside of Indianapolis, the Broncos’ offense has been abysmal. Not yet scoring over 20 points in a game, the Broncos may be rethinking their decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett, who is looking to be a less-than-stellar head coach. Russell Wilson has also been underperforming, throwing sub-60 percent, only tossing two passing touchdowns in three games, and with a passer rating of just 83.2. Tied for first in the division, the Broncos face who is likely their toughest opponent of the season in the Raiders, despite them having the worst record.
For the Raiders to come out with a win, there are a couple of things they would be wise to focus on:
Limiting turnovers
The Raiders have managed to lose the ball in every game thus far, and these struggles are nothing new. Derek Carr has long had a history of turnovers, and keeping a firm grip on the ball against a Denver team that has forced the 12th most turnovers in the league so far could be pivotal.
Get the passing game going
The Broncos are allowing the third-least yards per game through the air so far, and for a team with Davante Adams, Darren Waller, and (maybe) Hunter Renfrow, getting your pass offense going is crucial to the success of your offense in general. Derek Carr should be ashamed that out of those stars, Mack Hollins is the team leader in receiving yards.
Don’t let Russ cook
Despite an inaccurate start, Russell Wilson is still one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL. A deadly combination of mobility, passing ability, and experience means it’s only a matter of time before ‘Mr. Unlimited’ gets into the groove of his new offense and shreds opposing defenses, one corny Instagram story at a time.
Prediction
The Raiders, facing their first division opponent, finally get their season on track. Derek Carr throws for over 300 yards, and although the run game doesn’t do much to contribute, Darren Waller has a field day on the Broncos secondary, raking in 10 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown, as the Raiders win in their second home game of the season.
Raiders 34, Broncos 17
The Raiders and Broncos kick off on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 2:25 p.m. MT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game can be seen on CBS.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via www.espn.com.
