His eyes were red and his voice cracking. Derek Carr swayed from one side of a podium to the next, searching for answers that aren’t there.
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Ed Graney
Ed Graney is a sports columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, covering a variety of topics and the Las Vegas sports scene.
egraney@reviewjournal.com … @edgraney on Twitter. 702-383-4618
The Raiders’ Maxx Crosby is ranked as the NFL’s second-best edge rusher despite constant double-teams and playing on a defense that’s rated 28th in the league.
The mindset internally might have changed, but the Raiders still should be held to the standard set forth prior to the season kicking off — making the NFL playoffs.
Patrick Graham is the defensive coordinator hired by coach Josh McDaniels to create successful results on that side of the ball. That hasn’t happened after seven games.
There was no fight to the Raiders in a 24-0 loss at New Orleans. How they respond could shape an entire season.
A schedule that softens the next four weeks should allow the Raiders to rally from a 2-4 record and put themselves in position for an eventual run at the playoffs.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels: “We all want our quarterback to remain healthy as long as we can, so the goal is obviously the right goal. … It’s a fine line.”
Golden Knights fans haven’t lessened their loyalty after the team missed the postseason for the first time in franchise history. That was clear Thursday.
Kansas City was the better team in a 30-29 victory on “Monday Night Football” at Arrowhead Stadium, but it took everything the Chiefs had to send the Raiders home 1-4.
The fourth-year running back went for a career-high 144 yards on 28 carries and scored two touchdowns in a 32-23 win against AFC West rival Denver.
In starting the season 0-3, the Raiders rank 26th in the NFL in red-zone efficiency at 46 percent. They often treat those 20-yard quests for touchdowns like they’re from 40.
The Raiders are 0-3, but nobody can question the play of wide receiver Mack Hollins, who leads the team with 240 receiving yards and is averaging 17.1 yards per catch.
It was easily the most undisciplined we have seen of Josh McDaniels’ Raiders team, a sloppy effort in a game that probably shouldn’t have been as close as the final margin.
Derek Carr is the 31st-ranked quarterback by Pro Football Focus after the Raiders’ 0-2 start. He has thrown for four touchdowns and three interceptions.
With losses to the Chargers and Cardinals to open their season, the Raiders next play at Tennessee, where they need a win to avoid going 0-3.