Raiders' opening drive defense finished 2023 season historically good
The Las Vegas Raiders were not expected to be a great defensive team this year, especially when you factored in just how bad they were in that area in 2022. They were an offensive team whose defense got dragged every game. This season, it was a complete flip.It's a surprise, yes, when you think of […]
The Las Vegas Raiders were not expected to be a great defensive team this year, especially when you factored in just how bad they were in that area in 2022. They were an offensive team whose defense got dragged every game. This season, it was a complete flip.
It's a surprise, yes, when you think of the season as a whole. However, after the first few weeks under Antonio Pierce, the interim head coach, it was pretty obvious this team's identity was going to be a grit-and-grind defensive team.
They have somehow brought back the old Raiders vibe that fans used to have back in the day. The "Raider way" people talk about is somewhat back. The defense is dominant, especially at the start of the game. In fact, they have been historically dominant in starting games. Here is what the Raiders' PR team tweeted out about the historic defense to start the game this season:
The Raiders defense forces a Broncos 3-and-out to start the game. The Raiders defense has now forced a 3-and-out on their opponents' opening drive in 11 games this season, the most in the NFL. The Raiders' 11 games this season forcing a 3-and-out on their opponent's opening drive are the most in a season for the Silver and Black defensive since at least 2001.
That's pretty special, but when you factor in this defense last season, and when you think about the opening drive of your defense, it is what's setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Raiders are starting the game strong on that side of the ball, and it is often times setting up the games to close pones because of how well the defense plays.
Now, if the Raiders could just get their offensive issues figured out.
Eye-opening stat shows just how much better the Raiders’ defense is in 2023
The Raiders defense showed up to play on Sunday against the Dolphins.
