Las Vegas Raiders may finally have some sort of consistency where they needed it the most all season long
The Las Vegas Raiders have dealt with a handful of issues in 2024. That's no secret, but I feel like fans of other teams just instantly jump to the Raiders being so bad, and that being the reason they are 2-10. And, it's certainly a big reason why, but not the only reason. This team […]
The Las Vegas Raiders have dealt with a handful of issues in 2024. That's no secret, but I feel like fans of other teams just instantly jump to the Raiders being so bad, and that being the reason they are 2-10. And, it's certainly a big reason why, but not the only reason. This team has dealt with some of the worst injury luck in the league, and those injuries have produced inconsistencies.
The Raiders have not had many of the same players playing together for much of the season, so there's no consistency. The biggest position group that has struggled with that problem, which needs as much consistency as possible, is the offensive line. There have been points this year where the Raiders were the worst offensive line in the league, and that's why.
But, they have improved over the last few games, and there's good reason for that result. This is the fourth straight week the Raiders will have the same starting five on the offensive line. That's huge, and that can go a long way for the Raiders.
"Yeah, and it will be the same five. I mean, we're healthy, knock on wood. We finished the week that way, we'll have the same five guys out there. Continuity and chemistry," head coach Antonio Pierce said on Thursday. "I've been saying that since training camp with this group. You see it starting to gel.
"You see that in the running game, you see that in protection, you see the communication throughout the game and not having these mental errors, just understanding who you're working with. I think that's really a credit to those guys, one, keeping guys healthy, and then obviously Joe Philbin has done a good job filling in."
The Raiders have protected the passer better in the last few games against some really good pass rushes, too, like the Kansas City Chiefs, where there were no quarterback hits, but a few pressures. The offensive line also opened up some gaps in the run game, especially for Sincere McCormick.
But, this consistency is a bit late. The Raiders are currently in a fight, in a fight for the worst team in the league, as they try and make a push for the No. 1 overall pick by losing as much as possible. Now they don't need this — there's no shot they make the playoffs, so they need that inconsistency back because having that cohesion in the offensive line will only help them win games.
But, hey, it is good to have this to carry into next year, especially with the young guys. The Raiders will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, and then the Atlanta Falcons on primetime next week.
Las Vegas Raiders’ season trend is finally going in the right direction just at the wrong time
They needed that a few weeks ago.
