The Las Vegas Raiders started 3-0 this season, giving everyone a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, things were finally turning around. But after a 33-30 home loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, they’ve dropped three straight and are back to 3-3. And honestly, it feels like we’re just seeing the same old Raiders show that’s been playing in Vegas for years now.
Back to “Normal” and the Coach is Not Having It
After that hopeful 3-0 start, the wheels are definitely wobbling. The issues we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from the Raiders have come roaring back: dumb penalties, missed tackles that feel like they’re in slow motion, killer turnovers, and settling for field goals when they absolutely needed touchdowns. Head coach Klint Kubiak didn’t mince words after the game, saying he was “very disappointed” and that the team “didn’t close the game.” He’s right, too. This isn’t a team playing for four quarters, and it’s clear Kubiak is “really upset with how we’re starting the third quarter,” especially when they go “three-and-out.” It’s these mental errors that are absolutely crushing them.
Home Field? What Home Field?
Perhaps the most telling sign of where this team is at came from the stands. The Bills Mafia didn’t just show up, they *took over* Allegiant Stadium. This isn’t a new phenomenon for the Raiders, either. The Chiefs Kingdom, the Broncos fans, even the Steelers faithful have turned Allegiant into their own stomping ground annually. It’s gotten to the point where Raiders season ticket-holders are just flipping their seats on the secondary market, knowing they can make a good chunk of cash and probably watch their team lose from the comfort of their couch. When Kirk Cousins throws an interception, or Treydan Stokes or Hezekiah Masses get flagged for pass interference or holding, or the offense false starts on fourth-and-1, fans just shake their heads and change the channel. That’s not a fan base expecting to win, is it?
Offense Stuck in First Gear
It’s not just the penalties and fan issues, either. Offensively, they’re still searching for answers. Brock Bowers, who everyone expected to be a major force, took the better part of three quarters to even impact the game. The running game is still “stuck in first gear,” even if Ashton Jeanty looked okay. Jeanty only managed 22 yards on the ground, though he did add four catches for 36 yards. Meanwhile, Josh Allen, who only ran for a single yard, absolutely picked the Raiders’ defense apart, throwing for 255 yards and two scores on 23-of-33 passing. Coach Kubiak nailed it when he said, “The penalties on fourth-and-1 are killing us, just killing us.” This isn’t what anyone wanted after that hopeful start.
This team toyed with its fans’ expectations for three weeks, only to revert right back to the frustrating ways that supporters know all too well. The season is still young, but the Raiders are already looking alarmingly like their old selves, and that’s not a good sign for anyone hoping for a change of pace in Vegas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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