The Las Vegas Raiders are stumbling going into week six. The drama circling the team has almost consumed them. They need to win this Sunday. They have a new starting quarterback in Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell is taking over for the struggling Gardner Minshew. There’s hope he can bring an offense to life that has heavily struggled to produce anything. The Davante Adams trade saga also entered a new chapter though he’s not expected to play this Sunday.
Feed the Rookie
Brock Bowers has proven to be the x-factor of the entire Las Vegas Raiders offense. In the absence of Adams, Bowers stepped into the void last week and produced his first career touchdown. He leads all tight ends in the NFL in receiving yards and receptions this season. It’s a remarkable development for the rookie and he’s proven to be the team’s only consistent weapon thus far this season.
Unless Adams makes a remarkable recovery and returns this Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders need to lean on Bowers. The offense needs to flow through him. Few rookies have been able to burst onto the scene at the tight end position and become their team’s best weapon. Even if Adams does stay as Head Coach Antonio Pierce suggested earlier this week, Bowers needs to be the focus of the offense.
Russ Or Fields, It Doesn’t Matter
There have been suggestions that Russell Wilson might be starting this Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the same time, Justin Fields has performed well as the starting quarterback. The Steelers have a bit of a conundrum at the quarterback position similar to the Las Vegas Raiders. But it shouldn’t matter for the Raiders defense. They’re hampered by injuries but they’re still the strength of the team.
Losing Christian Wilkins to a Jones Fracture in his foot is an incredible loss. They’re missing Malcolm Koonce off the edge as well for the entire season. Marcus Epps is also out for the season. There isn’t a more injured unit at this point than the Las Vegas Raiders defense. At the same time, the players healthy enough to play have to step up. Maxx Crosby and Robert Spillane can’t be the only key contributors.
It’s All On ‘AOC’
O’Connell went 5-5 last season as the starting quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s still the last quarterback to defeat the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. They need more from him than they were getting out of Minshew. Minshew threw a 100-yard pick-six last week in Denver that might as well have been the dagger that lost them the game. He struggled heavily in every game this season.
The offense needs O’Connell to be able to stand in the pocket and complete passes to the right team. Minshew had more interceptions(5) than touchdowns(4) as the starter. But it was also when and how the interceptions happened that was damaging. O’Connell is a pure pocket passer. He can’t be afraid to step up in the pocket and take shots downfield. It might unlock a stagnant offense that needs life.
Conclusion
In the end, it might not matter. The Steelers need this game the same way the Las Vegas Raiders do. There just might be too many injuries and drama for Las Vegas to overcome. This season feels lost and it might not be worth recovering. This team needs a quarterback and it remains to be seen if O’Connell is the answer. Losing Adams is also a death blow to the season unless they mend fences with him.
Regardless of who the Steelers start at quarterback, the Raiders will struggle to win this one. It’s going to be a painful, mundane game to watch. It’s going to be a game where the Las Vegas Raiders will struggle to generate offense. An underrated aspect will be seeing how much “Steeler Nation” takes over Allegiant Stadium. It’s hard to build up a home-field advantage when you can’t make the playoffs.
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