I’m old enough to remember when the Raiders won three in a row and went to were up on the Chiefs, threatening to sweep them in the final seconds of the game. We’ve all aged poorly since then.
That Chiefs game seemed like it was a sign the Raiders were for real. Even in a loss. But what would follow would tell a different story. One that has become all too familiar over Jon Gruden’s second tenure as Raiders head coach.
Over the past four weeks, the Raiders are 1-3 and that one win was a game in which the Jets seemed to have in the bag and had no business losing. That’s the winless Jets we’re talking about. In the other two losses the Raiders had, they gave up 87 points.
If this late-season collapse has a familiar stench to it, it’s because that’s exactly what happened the past two seasons to the Raiders.
Last season they were 6-4 only to finish the season losing five of their last six to miss the playoffs. In 2018, Gruden’s first season back as head coach, they lost four of their final six. Of course, that season they only had two wins over the first ten games.
Now, with three games left, they are playing like a team that is more likely to lose out than they are to turning things around. This team has gone from thinking about the playoffs to just trying to win a game.
“We can’t worry about the playoffs and who is winning and losing around the league,” said Jon Gruden after the game. “We have to take care of our business. I don’t want to hear any more playoffs questions. We have to take care of our business and find a way to win our eighth football game.”
It’s impossible not to talk about the playoffs. Especially considering this game against the Colts was so crucial for both teams’ playoff aspirations. The Colts looked like it. The Raiders did not
What was a three-point game in the third quarter was over a quarter later with the Raiders falling behind 44-20 before adding a garbage-time touchdown. The defense held the Colts to just ONE punt. While the offense turned the ball over three times on two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and a fumble.
Last week, the Jets may have Jetsed that game in the end, but before that, they were running the ball at will against the Raiders.
The Colts were watching and with a strong offensive backfield, they ripped the Raiders, averaging 7.4 yards per carry with two touchdowns on the ground. And there was still some room for Philip Rivers to throw for two touchdowns of his own. Mostly because he was not even made uncomfortable in the game, let alone actually sacked.
The formidable team that showed up twice against the World Champion Chiefs this season has been nowhere to be found since then. Not only do the Raiders look like they’re headed for another late-season collapse, but they also aren’t even looking competitive.
Also, just like last season, the Raiders could hang around should they get help from other teams. But they must help themselves first and foremost and they certainly don’t look like a team that belongs in the postseason.
[vertical-gallery id=77159]
[lawrence-newsletter]