In Week 10, the Las Vegas Raiders reached a brand new offensive low in a season stuffed with them.
Towards the division-leading Denver Broncos, the Raiders had a possibility to drag off an upset at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive — a stadium recognized for miracles. Nevertheless, they have been unable to capitalize on the protection’s finest efficiency of the season.
Tight finish Brock Bowers had just one catch for 31 yards. Quarterback Geno Smith threw an interception for the twelfth time this season. And Las Vegas did not rush for at the least 100 yards for the fourth straight sport.
The Raiders’ 10-7 loss marked the fourth time this season they scored fewer than 10 factors in a sport — most within the NFL and tied for his or her most by way of 9 video games in franchise historical past (1981, 2006 and 2009), per ESPN Analysis.
Getting into its “Monday Night time Soccer” matchup in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys (8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN), Las Vegas has been held to fewer than 30 factors in 29 consecutive video games — the longest lively streak within the NFL and second-longest in franchise historical past (35-game streak from 1991-93).
“What’s my degree of concern? That we’re not scoring sufficient factors,” coach Pete Carroll stated. “That is about as apparent as you will get. … There are plenty of elements right here.”
In 2025, the offense wasn’t anticipated to be the workforce’s Achilles’ heel. Underneath new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, first-round operating again Ashton Jeanty and Smith, a two-time Professional Bowl choice in three seasons as Seattle’s starter, the unit was meant to be stronger than final yr’s group.
That has not been the case.
A number of elements have contributed to Las Vegas’ offensive struggles. The Raiders have suffered accidents to key gamers, together with Bowers, beginning left sort out Kolton Miller (ankle) and most not too long ago proper guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (ankle), who was positioned on injured reserve.
The Raiders (2-7) have damage themselves on a number of events, from Smith’s turnovers to premature penalties which have made it laborious to maintain drives alive. These points may result in vital adjustments within the offseason.
“The extra you dwell on it, you are simply going to maintain digging your self in a fair larger gap,” tight finish Michael Mayer stated. “It sucks to be saying that. I really feel like I say that quite a bit right here. … We have got to dig ourselves out of this gap.”
PUT THE RAIDERS’ offensive numbers from 2024 and 2025 side-by-side, and the dearth of enchancment is alarming.
Final season, they ranked twenty ninth in factors (18.18 per sport), twenty seventh in complete yards (303.2), thirty second in speeding yards (79.8), thirty first in EPA (minus-94.20), and twenty seventh in crimson zone effectivity (48.9%). These struggles led to the firing of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after 9 video games, with Scott Turner taking on in an interim function.
In 2025, Las Vegas is thirty first in factors, thirtieth in complete yards (272.7), twenty ninth in speeding yards (87.4), thirtieth in EPA (minus-52.64) and twenty eighth in crimson zone effectivity (47.8%). If the Raiders’ present averages in factors and complete yards maintain, it might mark their lowest over a full season since 2009 (12.3 factors and 266.1 complete yards).
The Raiders’ crimson zone fee, speeding yards and complete yards are the bottom for Kelly in 5 seasons as an NFL head coach or coordinator.
“We’re undoubtedly not the place we wish to be,” stated third-year extensive receiver Tre Tucker. “I am a bit of shocked.”
Carroll hoped progress would’ve been made following their finest offensive efficiency of the season, a 30-29 extra time loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9.
Smith threw 4 landing passes, together with three to Bowers (who had 12 catches for 127 yards in his first sport again since Sept. 28). However in opposition to Denver, the offense seemed like an incompetent group. The Raiders had 188 complete yards, together with 74 on the bottom.
“We have been gaga over the efficiency that we had in Brock’s return. And I figured we have been pedal to the metallic,” Carroll stated. “Sadly, we got here again this previous week [against] Denver, probably the greatest groups within the NFL on protection, and we could not get happening them. Was it Denver? Was it us? Is it Dallas? Is it us? We’ll discover out as we maintain going.”
To begin the 2025 season, the celebs seemed aligned for Las Vegas to be higher offensively. The Raiders traded for Smith after he established himself as one of many league’s most correct passers. Additionally they drafted Jeanty with the No. 6 decide, creating optimism that prime skill-position gamers, together with Kelly calling the pictures, would result in higher outcomes. Normal supervisor John Spytek seen Kelly, after profitable a nationwide title with Ohio State, as a “nice offensive thoughts” who will get essentially the most out of his quarterbacks.
When Kelly coached Oregon from 2009-2012, the Geese have been first within the nation in factors per sport (44.72) and eleventh in offensive performs per sport (75.1). In Kelly’s three seasons (2013-2015) because the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach, his groups ranked third in factors (26.9).
His transition from Oregon to Philadelphia went easily. In his first season, the Eagles went 10-6 and averaged 27.6 factors per sport, in comparison with 17.5 the earlier season. However he did not have the identical success throughout his lone season as the pinnacle coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. The workforce completed 2-14 and averaged 19.2 factors.
As Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, Kelly led an environment friendly group regardless of slowing down the tempo. Following six seasons as the pinnacle coach at UCLA (2018-2023), he led the Buckeyes to a No. 14 rating in factors (35.69). Ohio State was a hundred and twentieth in performs per sport (61.8) and 18th in time of possession per play (29.4 seconds).
“I imply, he is type of all the time been on the forefront of offense,” Spytek stated of Kelly, who reportedly has a mean annual wage of $6 million. “I believe we simply see an amazing offensive thoughts that he will get his quarterbacks to play effectively. I believe you utilize Will Howard for instance final yr; he had a few robust moments, however Chip [Kelly] and Will discovered a solution to play their finest soccer when it mattered most. You have to tip your cap to folks that may try this.”
However Kelly’s return to the NFL hasn’t been form to him and has drawn comparisons to his 2016 season with the 49ers, when he did not spark the offense.
THE RAIDERS FLASHED the potential of a purposeful unit in Week 1’s 20-13 win over the New England Patriots. Smith accomplished 24 of 34 passes (70.6%) for 362 yards with one landing and one interception. The Raiders had 5 totally different gamers catch passes for 20-plus yards.
The Raiders took a couple of steps again after they confronted the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 and have been on a downward spiral since. Smith threw three interceptions and the offense was held to 218 complete yards in a 20-9 loss.
“After we performed the Chargers, they knew we have been an explosive offense,” Tucker stated. “They type of saved the whole lot in entrance of us. I believe lots of people have been following that mannequin.”
For the reason that Week 1 win, Smith has thrown for 1,482 yards, 10 touchdowns and a league-high 11 interceptions. He has had a tough time in opposition to zone protection, throwing 10 picks on 123 makes an attempt, in comparison with one decide on 66 makes an attempt in opposition to man protection.
The Raiders have did not recreate the explosive performs they made within the opener. These days, they’ve been conservative and relied extra on the brief passing sport to maintain the ball out of hurt’s manner.
Smith averaged 9.2 air yards per try from Week 1 to three and had six completions on 14 makes an attempt for 20-plus air yards. Since then, he has totaled 4.9 air yards per try and accomplished 2 of 9 passes for 20-plus air yards. His air yards per try over the primary three weeks would rank second within the league for the season; his common since then would rank final by a big margin.
“There’s a bit of extra shell protection, guys taking part in on prime of deep routes and never letting us run behind them,” extensive receivers coach Chris Beatty stated. “On the finish of the day, these coaches are sensible now, so they are not going to allow you to simply run by way of the protection. They’ll make some changes, they usually have.”
Undoubtedly, Smith will get the majority of the blame. He has had accuracy points and has often held on to the ball for too lengthy. However penalties and cross safety have additionally prevented Las Vegas from protecting drives alive.
Towards Denver, the Raiders recorded 10 first downs and transformed 4 of 15 third-down makes an attempt. Smith was sacked 4 occasions on third down. And penalties by rookies Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech negated a pair of huge performs, together with a 31-yard landing catch by Tucker.
“You’ll be able to’t have missed assignments, you may’t have penalties, you may’t have penalties negating massive performs [and] turnovers,” Smith stated. “These are the issues that damage groups. When the Raiders cease beating the Raiders, we’ll go on the market, and we are able to beat anyone on this league, however we have now to cease being ourselves first. It looks as if that is been a recurring factor each single week.”
WHEN JEANTY ARRIVED in Las Vegas, Carroll anticipated him to have a serious function, much like how he utilized former operating again Marshawn Lynch in Seattle. He had hoped an efficient floor sport would permit them to manage the clock and maintain their protection off the sphere as a lot as doable.
Jeanty has had his moments. He has 143 carries for 547 yards and 4 touchdowns. Nevertheless, he’s averaging 3.8 yards per rush, has just one 100-yard sport and has been held to fewer than 50 yards in 4 video games.
Carroll wished to make use of a number of operating backs in a rotation. However that hasn’t come to fruition. Las Vegas opened 2025 with Zamir White because the No. 2, however he has struggled, with solely 10 carries for 25 yards this season. Finally, veteran Raheem Mostert — who was inactive for the primary three weeks — changed White.
Mostert had 11 carries for 84 yards, together with a 62-yard efficiency within the Raiders’ loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 4. He hasn’t offered a lot help not too long ago, totaling six carries for no yards up to now 4 video games. Mostert has been primarily used as a blocker and check-down goal in third-down conditions.
The Raiders’ inconsistent run sport has gone hand-in-hand with their struggles on the offensive line. Jeanty has not often had any open house to work with. He has had a league-high 41 carries that resulted in no achieve or a loss. It is essentially the most by any Raiders operating again by way of the workforce’s first 9 video games for the reason that begin of 2000.
The Raiders have trailed in eight video games, forcing them to desert the run and depend on Smith’s arm. Las Vegas has trailed in 45% of the sport clock this season, the Tenth-highest mark within the NFL.
“You wish to be balanced. For those who’re balanced, that is a superb factor,” Kelly stated. “For those who’re operating the ball extra, it most likely means you are profitable, as a result of which means you are in a four-minute offense, and you are going to run the ball extra in a four-minute offense than you do in a two-minute offense.
“So in the event you’re forward on the finish of the sport, you are going to get extra rushes. For those who’re behind on the finish of the sport, you are going to get extra throws.”
Nonetheless, Carroll has been demanding a stronger emphasis on operating the ball and taking part in beneath middle. Earlier within the season, Carroll critiqued the offense in that regard. Smith has lined up within the shotgun on 81.5% of his dropbacks, in comparison with 14.3% beneath middle.
“That is type of how [my teams have] gained over time, and it does not should be as productive,” Carroll stated. “It simply must be actually strong, and you retain the ball away from the opposite guys.”
Carroll stated he does not plan to alter his method for the remainder of the season. As Las Vegas embarks on the second half, Kelly hopes the workforce can “keep in rhythm.”
Dallas supplies a possibility for the Raiders to try this. The Cowboys’ protection ranks twenty eighth in speeding yards (143 per sport) and passing yards (254.4) allowed. Nevertheless, Dallas improved its line of defense, buying Quinnen Williams on the commerce deadline.
“There [aren’t] many groups that [have] the posh of riches at defensive sort out with Osa [Odighizuwa], Kenny [Clark] and now Quinnen, so [Dallas] presents some issues,” Kelly stated. “And I believe, as a result of you have not seen them on tape and the way he will deploy them, there will be some changes that go on at the start of that sport.”
Regardless of how the ultimate eight weeks play out, the Raiders could have inquiries to face when the season ends. Las Vegas has two offensive cornerstones in Jeanty and Bowers, however there’s loads of work that may have to be performed, particularly at quarterback.
Smith has a lifeless cap hit of solely $18.5 million in 2026, so it is actually doable the Raiders transfer on from him. Whether or not or not Smith exhibits he can nonetheless be the starter past 2025, a succession plan needs to be in place. Las Vegas has a 7% probability of touchdown the No. 1 decide within the 2026 NFL draft and a 54.1% probability of choosing throughout the prime 5, in accordance ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index.
Las Vegas’ inside offensive line may look a bit totally different. Left guard Dylan Parham can be an unrestricted free agent, and middle Jordan Meredith is a restricted free agent. Following the departure of extensive receiver Jakobi Meyers, the Raiders want one other dependable cross catcher.
Spytek hinted through the league conferences in April that it might take multiple season to repair the Raiders. The workforce’s try to fast-track the method by bringing in Smith and Kelly nonetheless did not forestall them from having to face the inevitability of an extended rebuilding course of.
“This isn’t what I anticipated to occur, and I did not really feel that we’d be this far behind at first of the season,” Carroll stated.
