Raiders' Offense Stumbles in Olson's Debut

The Las Vegas Raiders' offensive struggles persisted in their recent 31-14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, marking a disappointing debut for new offensive playcaller Alex Olson. The team was held to a mere 31 rushing yards, and quarterback Geno Smith endured significant pressure throughout the game, being sacked five times. This defeat officially eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season, signaling a critical need for substantial offseason adjustments.

Coach Pete Carroll acknowledged the team's offensive deficiencies, noting that a quick turnaround was not realistic. He previously fired the former offensive coordinator due to the unit's "painful" performance. Olson, who also served as quarterbacks coach, was intended to revitalize the lackluster rushing attack. However, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty's output remained meager, with only 31 yards on 15 carries, averaging a mere 2.1 yards per attempt.

The offensive line's performance further compounded the issues, with three starters sidelined due to ankle injuries. Despite the challenges, the team is looking ahead to potential offseason solutions, drawing parallels to teams like the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos who have invested heavily in their offensive trenches. These strategic investments have yielded significant improvements in pass and run blocking for those franchises, a blueprint the Raiders may seek to follow.