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It’s been a long time since the Raiders have had an average defense. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear the Raiders are all that close to having a good defense in 2023.
While the Raiders spent the No. 7 pick on Tyree Wilson, they didn’t make enough significant upgrades on that side of the ball this offseason. They still are weak at linebacker and defensive back, but are hopeful that a lot of their young players can make big leaps this season.
In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they gave the biggest reason why each team will or won’t make the playoffs during the 2023 season. For the Raiders, it’s their defense as it still projects to be among the worst in the NFL.
The Raiders’ 2022 offense wasn’t enough to overcome their bad defense, with Josh Jacobs winning the rushing title and the team leaning on Davante Adams.
So, losing Darren Waller and Derek Carr this offseason will only make matters worse, while projected improvements on defense are minor. Las Vegas ranked in the bottom five in yards per game allowed and in the bottom eight in points per game allowed last year.
The offense is going to have to carry the defense this season, but some are skeptical the Raiders will be better in that area. It’s a fair concern after Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams both had All-Pro seasons in 2022.
But the hope is that the defense can be significantly better with Chandler Jones entering the second season in the scheme and with the selection of Tyree Wilson at No. 7. But if the defense struggles again, it’s going to be nearly impossible for the Raiders to make the playoffs.
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