Raiders Opinion: Tough Choices Litter Rest Of Season
The Las Vegas Raiders face an incredibly difficult decision as to how to proceed with the rest of the 2022 NFL season.
As the Las Vegas Raiders stand at 4-7, the team has to make a decision on how to proceed with the rest of their season. With the Raiders three games out of a playoff spot, not controlling their own destiny en route to the postseason, and needing to win all of their last six games to match last season’s 10-7 record, the team’s chances of returning to the Wild Card round are painfully low.
Resurgence?
Up until Week Eleven, it appeared Las Vegas looked locked in for a top-three pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But, after two straight wins, the team bought into Josh McDaniels. As a result, the team started to put some pieces back together. Now that the Raiders show the ability to win, their most telling decision regards their identity for the rest of the year. Although the team sits at the ninth pick in the 2023 draft, they stand a game away from the third.
Cohesion At A Price
However, considering how the first half of the season fared, allowing the team to continue gelling could merit similar value. Hammering in six more games of the “new look” Raiders could set next season up on the right foot. While off-season roster moves remain unpredictable, it is likely that most of the team’s core stays intact. Plus, dragging feet through the back half of a season certainly hurts morale.
Rough Road Ahead
In the coming weeks, Las Vegas does battle with multiple playoff hopefuls, such as the Chargers, 49ers, and Chiefs, and could try their hand at playing spoiler or at least taking a hit out of their opponents’ confidence. Looking ahead, the Raiders play the 49ers and Chiefs in the final two weeks of the season, meaning the general consensus of the 2022 season will be all but set in stone. But, the Raiders host the Chargers this Sunday and will have the chance to show how much fight remains within.
Tools And Little Time
Considering the signing of Davante Adams last offseason and Josh Jacobs’ resurgence, it is unlikely the Raiders throw in the towel, especially at home against Los Angeles. The Raiders took much pleasure in spoiling the Chargers’ playoff hopes last season, and it is impossible their AFC West rivals have forgotten. It is equally unlikely the Raiders will be blindsided by the Chargers’ dreams of revenge and will have to come out swinging.
Overview
Regardless of the team’s concerns about draft position, this is undoubtedly a game the Raiders should be fully playing to win. After sweeping the Denver Broncos (again), defeating the Chargers would ensure at least a 3-3 divisional record against what was initially believed to be one of the strongest divisions in the NFL. This season has been far from smooth sailing, but emerging from this forgettable season with at least a .500 divisional record should be set as a measuring stick. Despite the off-season feeling about a year long, finishing the season on a good note would play well all the way to the next season.
