Raiders as the worst show in the gambler's paradise of Las Vegas
Las Vegas is money, glitter, gambling, fantasy and fiction - all in one. And unique in the USA. Here, in the entertainment mecca in the middle of the Nevada desert, illusions are created, some dreams come true and others are destroyed. There is always entertainment here. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
But it is the American football team that is currently the most boring and worst that "Sin City" has to offer. The Las Vegas Raiders have a record of 3:5 after eight games. They are the complete opposite of what Las Vegas is all about, because they offer nothing magical, no magic, zero entertainment. No, they're a show that isn't a show and that Mark Davis just couldn't watch anymore.
"We have regressed"
"We've regressed," said the club owner on Tuesday. On Halloween of all days, Davis ended the nightmare and sacked coach Josh McDaniels and manager Dave Ziegler without notice. Both had quit after just one year and nine months in the players' paradise. "Rien ne va plus" - nothing works anymore.
The day before, the Raiders had lost the Monday Night Game at the Detroit Lions 14:26. It was a defeat that was "much clearer than the result suggests", according to the online portal The Athletic. When wide receiver Davante Adams appeared in front of the press afterwards, he simply said that he "really didn't know what to say at that moment". But that, in turn, was telling of the situation with the Raiders.
High losses, harmless offense
The disappointing performance in Detroit was one of many embarrassing performances this season - and it's not even half over yet. But was it also the low point? It's hard to say. Because there's a lot to choose from. For example, there was the 10:38 debacle at the Buffalo Bills on September 17. Then there was the 12:30 humiliation on October 22 at the Chicago Bears, who had only won one of their previous 16 games.
Or maybe the fact that the newly revamped Raiders offense scored more than 18 points in their eight games only in a 21-17 home win over the New England Patriots is the real punch in the gut for all Raiders fans?
Hope for New England magic in Las Vegas
Mark Davis had been so confident when he signed Ziegler on January 30, 2022 - and McDaniels a day later. He had hoped that the duo would bring some of the winning mentality, the winning gene and the magic of the New England Patriots the almost 4400 kilometers over to Las Vegas. After all, McDaniels was part of Bill Belichick's coaching staff for all six of the Patriots' Super Bowl triumphs and was offensive coordinator in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
The six-year contract shows just how much Davis trusted McDaniels. More than four years are still to run - and Las Vegas is obliged to pay McDaniels until 2028. Ziegler initially worked in New England's scouting department from 2013 and was most recently involved in putting the team together as Director of Player.
Davante Adams brought in from Green Bay
One of her first official acts in Las Vegas was an immediate hit. They signed Adams, who was quarterback Aaron Rodgers' favorite kickoff man with the Green Bay Packers. Adams and Hunter Renfrow as wide receivers, running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller - that was plenty of quality that playmaker Derek Carr had at his disposal. Despite this, the Raiders only won 6 of their 17 games in the 2022 season.
As a result, Ziegler and McDaniela rebuilt the offense in the spring. Carr had to leave and Jimmy Garoppolo, who both knew from their days together in New England, came in from the San Francisco 49ers. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers had also played for the Patriots under McDaniels. Waller also left the club for the New York Giants and was replaced by 22-year-old Michael Mayer, who Las Vegas drafted in the second round in the spring.
Miserable offensive statistics
Nevertheless, the results did not get better, but worse. In the eight games of the season, the Raiders offense scored an average of 15.7 points per game - the third worst of all 32 clubs. The 268.3 yards gained per game (31st) and the 4.6 yards gained per play (27th) also illustrate how weak the offense is. The run game is virtually non-existent and Garoppolo played more like a rookie than someone who has been in the NFL since 2014 and has played in 87 games.
The quarterback had signed a three-year contract for 72.75 million dollars in the spring. He was supposed to be the undisputed number one at his position in Las Vegas. But now he is back on the bench. Garoppolo was once regarded as a great talent and potential successor to Tom Brady in New England, but simply couldn't get past the superstar.
Rookie gets preference over Garoppolo
Six years ago, he switched to the San Francisco 49ers, but was repeatedly set back by injuries. There are now quite a few who believe he is simply not tough enough for the NFL. This season, the playmaker missed two and a half games due to a concussion and back problems. But even when he did play, he played poorly. Only 65.5 percent of his passes were completed, and his nine interceptions in just five and a half games are tops in the league.
Garoppolo will now be replaced by Aidan O'Connell, a rookie the Raiders drafted in the fourth round this spring. "We think he gives us the best chance," Antonio Pierce said on Wednesday. The 45-year-old, who was previously in charge of the linebackers, has been promoted to interim coach.
Ziegler's duties will be taken over by his former assistant, Champ Kelly. He had been Mark Davis' favorite for the position anyway. But McDaniels had insisted in 2022 that he be allowed to bring Ziegler with him from New England.
Unsettled team, full-bodied words
"It's a new day, a new chapter, a new era, a new attitude," emphasized Pierce. He spoke of "passion, commitment, energy" and a "commitment to excellence". According to Pierce, the team will give everything so that the fans can be proud again.
That doesn't sound bad at first, but it's nothing more than the standard wording of every coach who finds a pile of broken pieces and is somehow supposed to make a beautiful vase out of them. On the one hand, the team is pretty insecure. And on the other hand, it's Las Vegas. It has been a successful business model here for decades to promise a lot, raise hopes and create illusions. There are no limits to the fantasies in the self-proclaimed "Entertainment Capital of the World". But much remains fiction.
The Las Vegas Raiders, currently struggling in the NFL, can't seem to offer the same excitement and entertainment as the city they represent. With a disappointing 3-5 record after eight games, they're failing to live up to the magical and entertaining spirit of Las Vegas.
Despite the high-profile signings of players like Davante Adams and Jimmy Garoppolo, the Raiders continue to struggle, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Their 15.7 points per game and 268.3 yards gained per game are among the lowest in the league, raising questions about the team's future in the glittering city of Las Vegas.
Source: www.ntv.de
