Inside the Shakeup: Greg Olson Takes Over, Chargers Preview & Keys to the Game

INSIDE THE RAIDERS’ PROBLEMS:

DRAFT MISSES, CHIP KELLY FIRED, & CHARGERS PREVIEW

If you want the full story on how the Raiders ended up in this position — from years of draft misses to the offensive struggles boiling over — don’t miss this week’s podcast. I sat down with Jason Horowitz, the voice of the Raiders, for an honest breakdown of how the team got here and what needs to change. Then Chris Hayre joins the show to take you inside the matchup with the Chargers, including where L.A. is vulnerable, what to expect out of their offense coming off the bye, and the key factors that will decide Sunday’s game. Watch the full episode here and go into the weekend smarter than every Bolts fan you know.

KEYS TO THE GAME

GREG OLSON TAKES OVER PLAY CALLING

With Chip Kelly out, the Raiders are turning to a familiar face: Greg Olson, now in his third stint as the team’s play caller. And while this season’s offensive struggles have been glaring, Olson’s track record in Las Vegas actually suggests a real chance for improvement. Outside of a rough 2014 season, Olson-led offenses have consistently outperformed what the Raiders have put on the field under Kelly — averaging at least 18 points per game in every season he’s called plays for the Raiders except one, and finishing inside the top 10 in passing offense from 2019–2021.

One thing fans should expect immediately: the tight ends are about to eat. In nearly every season Olson has called plays for the Raiders, the leading receiver has been a tight end — from Jared Cook to Darren Waller —, and he’s targeted the position more than 100 times when his top tight end is healthy. With Brock Bowers in the building, it’s safe to assume Olson won’t shy away from dialing him up early and often. The run game should also see a noticeable shift. Olson’s offenses have averaged at least 95 rushing yards per game in five of his six seasons as the play caller for the Silver and Black, and when he’s had a true bell-cow back (Josh Jacobs), he’s fed him. That’s a promising sign for Ashton Jeanty, who’s at his best when he hits the 20-carry mark.

But the biggest shift might be philosophical. Pete Carroll stressed the need to run the ball better after firing Kelly, and Olson’s history shows he’s far more committed to staying balanced and sticking with what works — something Kelly simply didn’t do. No one is saying this suddenly becomes a top-15 offense overnight; the offensive line issues are still real. But Olson’s approach, his tight end usage, and his understanding of how to build a functional run game all give the Raiders a better chance to stabilize things and finally move in the right direction down the stretch.

Still not buying it? Don’t take my word for it. Keep scrolling and see just how bad things were with Chip Kelly calling plays.

INTERESTING READ

MISS ANYTHING?

Catch up on some of our recent stories:

HOW CHIP KELLY BOTCHED HIS RAIDERS OC JOB

In case you missed it, you need to check out this report from NFL Insider Tom Pelissero. He details just how dysfunctional things had become on offense for the Raiders — from Chip Kelly repeatedly botching play calls, forgetting motions, and leaving Geno Smith at the line confused, to calling plays that weren’t even in the game plan or installed in practice.

RAIDERS ROUNDERS

THE BEST BETS OF THE WEEK FOR THE RAIDERS VS. CHARGERS GAME

We’ve rolled out something new for Raider Nation this season: Raiders Rounders. Each week, I team up with betting analyst Matt Perrault (The Bostonian vs The Book, The Daily Juice) to spotlight the best Raiders bets of the week and a few smart plays from around the NFL. Think of it as the perfect mix of insider football talk and betting insight, giving you a sharper look at how Vegas views the Silver & Black — from player props to game lines — and where the edges might be heading into Sunday.

With that in mind, here are our best plays for the Raiders’ Week 13 matchup against the Chargers:

• Raiders +9.5

Shop around to see what you can get this at because I’ve seen it as low as +8.5, but this week, when we taped with Matt, he had this to say about the game:

⚠️ Disclaimer: Raiders Rounders is all about sharing our perspective on the game. These aren’t betting recommendations — any wagers you place are 100% your responsibility. Bet responsibly.

FANSHOTZ FRIDAY

“FanShotz Friday”

By now, you have seen the phenomenal photos we’ve been using in many of our newsletters. They’re some of the best shots you’ll find of your favorite team, captured through the lens of our friend Arnie Bazemore of Fanshotz.com. Every Friday, we’ll feature Arnie’s favorite Raiders shot of the week that he captures at practice or on game day.

This week, we’re featuring a shot Arnie snagged of Malcolm Koonce sacking Shedeur Sanders in last week’s game against the Browns. Koonce has been fairly quiet this year so this was a big moment for him. It marked his first sack since the opener in New England. He’s one of the guys who needs to finish strong and show the staff that he’s moving in the right direction.

Check out Arnie’s work at his site linked above and reach out if you’re interested in working with him. He’s a great guy and has been so supportive of me over the years when I was at NBC here in Vegas, and he’s come along for the ride with Silver & Black Sports Network, too.

WHAT’S NEXT?

As soon as the game wraps up, we’ll be taping our postgame podcast. Make sure you’re subscribed to us on YouTube so you don’t miss our instant reaction and analysis straight from the field at Allegiant Stadium.

Catch ya next time,