NFL Commentary: Raiders might have a team worth rooting for in Vegas,
The ramifications of the long breakup fully set in on Monday night.
That first week, even with the new name, didn’t quite hit. But the Raiders playing a home game in Las Vegas — that struck a chord from over here in the East Bay.
And with a new city and sweet new stadium, I couldn’t help but notice that the Raiders might just have a new kind of team, too.
Don’t get me wrong, the Raiders’ defense has not turned a corner yet.
But the offense? Through two weeks of the 2020 season, and following an impressive 34-24 win over the Saints on national television, I think it’s fair to say that there’s something cooking there.
It took a few years and a big move, but it looks like Jon Gruden — three years into his 10-year contract — finally has the personnel to run the schemes he wants to play.
Gruden’s 2020 Raiders has a do-it-all running back, Josh Jacobs, running behind a big, beefy and powerful athletic offensive line. Jacobs ran for 88 yards on 27 carries Monday night, and the Raiders’ offensive line, despite being a smorgasbord of starters and backups, controlled the line of scrimmage (and beyond) for most of the game.
But the big question remains: Is quarterback Derek Carr the game manager that Gruden wants under center?
After two games, it’s hard to say that he’s not.
There’s a long way to go, but Carr looks in control and a bit more adventurous in 2020. So far, he’s 50-of68 for 521 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. That will certainly do. Of course, this is football, and the only constant is injuries. Well, that and the Raiders having a bad defense.
We’ll have a much better read by mid-October. But if Carr is proven correct for taking an early season victory lap — boy is he currently happy to issue a verdict on the “haters” (aka anyone who has seen him play the last few years) — the Raiders might be taking an extra lap or two after the regular season is over.