Are The Raiders Back?

September 18th, 2024

By: Jack Weisberg

Coming off a huge Week 2 victory vs the Baltimore Ravens, these Raiders are looking promising headed into the easiest stretch of their schedule. With the Panthers on the horizon and the Browns and the Broncos following them, there is a clear path to a 4-1 start for Maxx Crosby and the Raiders. 

Despite the lack of offensive production in their first six quarters of play under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, the final two-quarters of the Ravens game showed how dangerous this Raiders pass game can really be. Gardner Minshew had been efficient in prior drives but failed to convert on third downs constantly. That all changed in the third quarter against the Ravens. 

Brock Bowers showed exactly why he was regarded so highly in the 2024 NFL Draft and why he should’ve been picked earlier than 13th overall. Brock has the most catches of any tight end through their first 2 NFL games. He is also the #1 tight end in first downs, yards, and catches. In just two games, Brock has put the entire league on notice! Dropping 9 catches for 98 yards in a comeback victory against one of the league's best. 

The Raiders' offense stagnated in the first six quarters of the season due to offensive line struggles, leading to a non-existent run game. The loss of Jermaine Elumenour this offseason may prove more costly than expected if second-round rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson can’t get on the field to help bolster this O-line. 

Devante Adams continues his remarkable run as the NFL’s best route runner, catching 9 passes for 110 receiving yards. Minshew and Adams’ chemistry was fully displayed in this game against the Ravens. Exploiting one-on-one coverage, getting outside the pocket, finding Adams on a comeback along the sideline, and going off-script to score a touchdown. This chemistry is building, and the more they get on the same page, the more success this Raiders offense is going to have. 

Minshew has shown his ability to get out of the pocket and get the ball to his playmakers in space. This is all the Raiders need out of their QB when the defense is playing the way they are, even more so when you have playmakers of the caliber of a Devante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Brock Bowers, a possession tight end in Michael Mayer, and a speedster in Tre Tucker. This team has all the pieces to succeed en route to their first playoff birth since 21-22 when they lost to the Bengals in the final seconds. This was well before having dominant individual forces on offense and a top 5 tenacious defense. 

Things are looking up in Vegas, but is this the same old story of a Raiders team showing promise and fading out as the year goes on? Or is this a new age of Raider football like Antonio Pierce has been preaching, with the ability to compete on the biggest stage in the NFL playoffs? After last weekend, the second question is more likely.