What’s Wrong With the Raiders Offense? + Cowboys MNF Preview

Offensive issues, JPJ’s replacement, Cowboys preview & our best bets — all inside.

Author

Jesse Merrick
November 14, 2025

In partnership with

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It's been crappy, and this is not what I expected to happen. And I didn't feel that we would be this far behind the start of the season. And so, we're just trying to just keep driving the messages home and trying to get better each week and do some things that we can build from. And it's a kick, it's a blocked kick, it's an OT catch, it's a -- and there's four or five games here that could have flipped just like that, just small margins of better play and better execution, better calls and all of that, that we know. But unfortunately, it still is what it is, and then we have to deal with it. So, I'm not very well-versed in being in this situation, and I don't have the experience about that, and I'm happy to say that, but I don't like it one bit. And it's been hard, and so fortunately, the coaches and we're all -- we keep grinding with our players, and we're communicating well. They're communicating well with us, and we're keeping it together. And it's just like the next opportunity feels like it's going to turn.”

— Pete Carroll, Raiders Head Coach, on starting 2-7

In today’s newsletter, we break down what’s truly going wrong with the Raiders offense — and the adjustments they must make to get back on track. We also dive into who should replace Jackson Powers-Johnson at guard after his injury, and why that decision could shape the entire unit. Plus, we take a full look at Monday Night Football vs. the Cowboys, including the matchups Vegas needs to win, and we close with our best bets in this week’s Raiders Rounders.

COWBOYS VS. RAIDERS PREVIEW

If you want a deeper look at what the Raiders are up against this week, make sure to check out the latest episode of the Silver & Black Sports Network Podcast. I’m joined by Dallas Morning News’ Cowboys reporter Joseph Hoyt to break down how Quinnen Williams is transforming the identity of Dallas’ defense — and what the Raiders’ injury-riddled offensive line must do to hold up. We also dive into where Vegas can exploit the Cowboys, the matchups that will define this game, and how the Raiders can turn the script on Monday night.

DID YOU KNOW?

Through nine weeks, the Raiders are 2-7, good for the worst 9-game start to a season in Pete Carroll’s NFL coaching career.

The last time he was below .500 through nine games was back in 2021 with Seattle. They started (3-6) and finished the season at (7-10).

WHAT’S UP WITH THE OFFENSE?

Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore/Fan Shotz

The Raiders paid Chip Kelly $6 million this offseason to join Geno and Pete to help kickstart this offense that ranked 27th in the league the last two seasons, but theyv’e actually taken a step back since Chip came to town.

Through nine weeks, the Raiders offense ranks 30th in yards per game (272.7) and 31st in points per game (15.4). Obviously, that’s not good enough, especially when you’ve got the league’s highest-paid offensive coordinator calling the shots of an offense like that. On Thursday, Pete was asked how he feels Chip has done with the offense, and Pete had this to say:

"He's working hard at it. He's working hard at it, and he's working with the guys he's got, and trying to make the very most of it."

— Pete Carroll, Raiders Head Coach

Look, injuries have definitely been an issue. The Raiders were without Brock Bowers for three games, and he played three games injured, too. Michael Mayer missed some time, so did Jakobi Meyers (before being traded), and he’s got a backup left tackle out there after Kolton Miller went down with an injury in week four against the Bears. There’s also the fact that Geno Smith has thrown 12 interceptions, good for the second most in the league. That’s all true, and partially valid excuses, but anyone who’s been watching knows there’s been plenty of meat left on the bone this season.

So, going forward, what needs to change in the next eight weeks?

When we spoke to him on Thursday, Pete mentioned that they were “gaga” over the offensive performance against the Jaguars. In that game, they posted 331 total yards on offense, their highest total in four weeks and fourth-highest mark on the season. Geno completed 74% of his passes, Brock had 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns, and Ashton Jeanty had 89 yards of total offense and one receiving touchdown. They also scored a season-high 29 points, and lost.

We can’t expect Brock to have three touchdowns every week, but that’s the recipe for success? The Raiders need to lean on Brock and Ashton (20+ carries) to lead them to victory and get clean football out of Geno. Which is something he noted when he was asked what he wants to see out of the offense down the stretch.

"I've got to cut it loose, man. Just don't think too much. Just go out there and cut it loose, play your game. Protect the football first and foremost. The last eight games of the season, I want to be the best in the league in terms of protecting the football. I mean, that's really what it is, and then just cut it loose, man. We've got to score points. We've got to score a lot more points than we have. We've got to pick it up. I know I've been saying we've got to learn and grow together, which is true, but now is around the time where it should start to show up on game day. And so, yeah, I want to go out there and I want to play really, really good football and take care of the football, take care of the team, put points on the board, get the defense a lead to work with, and watch those guys go hunt."

— Geno Smith, Raiders Quarterback

Against a team like Dallas, which owns the league’s 4th-best total offense, they’ll need that more than ever. The only time the Cowboys offense has struggled this year is when they’ve fallen behind early and haven’t been able to take a balanced approach to the game. To do that, they’ll obviously need the defense to show up, but the offense will have to start pulling its weight, too. What better time to do that than against the league’s 30th-ranked total defense?

JUST IN: Earning Markets on Polymarket 🚨

Polymarket, the world's largest prediction market, has rolled out Earnings Markets. You can now place a simple Yes/No trade on specific outcomes:

  • Will HOOD beat earnings?

  • Will NVDA mention China?

  • Will AMC beat estimated EPS?

Profit directly from your conviction on an earnings beat, regardless of the immediate stock movement.

Why trade Earnings Markets?

  • Simple: Clear Yes/No outcomes.

  • Focused: Isolate the specific event you care about.

  • Flexible: Tight control for entry, hedging, or exit strategy.

Upcoming markets include FIGMA, ROBINHOOD, AMC, NVIDIA, and more. Built for how traders actually trade.

WHO’S STARTING AT RIGHT GUARD

The Raiders officially placed Jackson Powers-Johnson on IR this week after he suffered an ankle injury against the Broncos. That’s obviously a huge blow for them along the offensive line, he was their best o-lineman since Kolton went down with an injury.

As you see above, rookie third rounder Caleb Rogers sounds like he’s been told he’s the starter this week against the Cowboys but on the unofficial depth chart this week, veteran guard Alex Cappa is listed as the starter at right guard and when Pete was asked if Cappa gets slotted in as the starter or if they’re letting the guys compete for that spot, he played it close to the vest.

"Well, we know we can do that because Alex (Cappa) has played for us, and we know we can do that. We are going to have guys competing at the spot. We're trying to give guys an opportunity to show what they can do, make sure we're making a good decision. We feel secure that Alex could play that."

— Pete Carroll, Raiders Head Coach

You guys know Carroll loves to ComPETE, but being there this week and seeing his body language and the way Caleb was talking on Tuesday, I think they throw the kid out there to see what he’s got, especially coming off a mini-bye week. But stay tuned on that front. No matter who lines up at right guard, how they fare against Quinnen Williams and the rest of this Cowboys defensive front, which employs a lot of five-man fronts, will play a large role in how this game goes.

MISS ANYTHING?

Catch up on some of our recent stories:

Is Chip Kelly on the Hot Seat? Breaking Down the Raiders’ TNF Collapse in Denver


— The Raiders’ offense sputtered again on Thursday night — we’re breaking down what went wrong, how the Broncos bottled up Brock Bowers, and where things stand with Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Raiders Fall Short in OT: Breaking Down What Went Wrong vs. the Jaguars

— A closer look at Geno Smith’s final play explanation, Brock Bowers’ monster return, and how the Raiders’ defense let this one slip away.


RAIDERS ROUNDERS

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

Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore/Fan Shotz

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 (or Monday night).

With that in mind, here are our best plays for the Raiders’ Week 11 matchup against the Cowboys:

  • Cowboys -3.5: Matt really likes the Cowboys and thinks they’ll cover, and then some.

  • Tyler Lockett over 27.5 rushing/receiving yards: I like this play, too. Tyler led all Raiders receivers with six targets last week and actually hauled in five of them for 44 yards. Geno’s got history with him and trusts him a lot. Plus, the Cowboys defensie backs have struggled this year, and they actually surrender the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

  • Brock Bowers anytime TD: Matt’s moving off the Jeanty anytime TD this week, mostly because of the injuries up front and the Cowboys’ defensive line with the addition of Quinnen Williams.

Matt went three-for-three last week, cashing in on the Raiders at +9.5, the under on the points (42.5), and he hit on Ashton Jeanty anytime TD, too. We’ll see if he can keep it rolling into Week 2.

To watch the full Raiders Rounders segment, including Matt’s best bets of the rest of the NFL slate of games, check out our latest posdcast here.

⚠️ 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

Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore

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 Tre Tucker racking up some YAC at Allegiant Stadium. Check out his 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?

Since the Raiders played on Thursday Night Football last week, they’ve got a mini-bye this week so the practice schedule has been shifted a bit. They’ll be out on the field today and tomorrow afternoon before taking Sunday off ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup with the Cowboys.

Stay plugged in: Follow along on all our social channels for live updates and takeaways from practice over the next couple of days.

We usually drop a newsletter on Monday mornings, wrapping up the Raiders’ game over the weekend but since they don’t play til that evening, we’ll send out a newsletter diving into the keys to the game that morning. So keep an eye on your inbox for that one.

Don’t miss Monday night: As soon as we wrap up locker room interviews, 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,

Silver & Black Sports Network is an independent media outlet. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by the Las Vegas Raiders or the NFL.

Reply

or to participate.