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Who’s Still Standing for the Raiders — and Who’s Stepping Up Next
Who’s still standing, who’s stepping up, and where the Raiders go from here.
Jesse Merrick
December 26, 2025
QUOTE OF THE DAY"I don’t give a shit about the pick, to be honest. I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day, and being a great leader, and being an influence…that’s the front office, the coaches, they do that, but that’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned that lesson in the past. I’m not trying to — you can’t control everything, and that’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do, and that’s breaking the game.” — Maxx Crosby, when he was asked about the top pick in the NFL Draft being on the line in this weekend’s game against the Giants. |  Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore/FanShotz |
In today’s newsletter, we hit on the highs and lows of another difficult Raiders season — from Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers earning Pro Bowl honors, to Bowers landing on injured reserve and Ashton Jeanty stepping into the spotlight as the offense’s lead weapon. We also point you to our latest podcast breaking down what a real rebuild could look like, without the band-aids. Most importantly, thank you for reading and supporting this season — Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family. I hope you all had a great week celebrating with your loved ones!
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HOW THE RAIDERS ACTUALLY FIX THIS FRANCHISE
FULL REBUILD BLUEPRINT WITH YAHOO!SPORTS’ JASON FITZ
The Raiders don’t need another band-aid — they need a full teardown, and that’s exactly what we tackle in the latest Silver & Black Sports Network podcast, now live on YouTube. I’m joined by Jason Fitz for an unfiltered, strategic breakdown of how the Raiders can actually rebuild this thing the right way — from restructuring the decision-making hierarchy to finding the right coach–quarterback pairing and evaluating real QB options in the draft. If you’re done with half-measures and want an honest blueprint for long-term change, this episode is worth watching.
BOWERS GOES ON IR, WHAT NEXT?
The Raiders placed tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve this week, officially ending both of their seasons. The move comes as the team prepares to face the Giants in what many have dubbed the “Tank Bowl,” with the loser jumping into the driver’s seat for the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Bowers has been dealing with a knee injury since the season opener against the Patriots and played through it for most of the year, even missing three games along the way. Given where the Raiders are right now, this was the smart decision — protecting Brock from himself and giving him the time he needs to fully recover in what has clearly become a lost season.
“What a warrior he is, to be honest with you. I think that the great athletes in any sport, with basketball, football, baseball, I think the great ones -- it's one thing to play injured, but when you still play well when you're injured, that tells you something about the person. So yeah, we were fortunate to have him. It was certainly a letdown when we found out the news this week, because you didn't see it in his play, even as the coach. He's not one to complain, or he's not ever going to tell you. He's one of those players that you have to probably protect from himself because he's so tough, so disappointing for him."
With Bowers sidelined, expect Ashton Jeanty to shoulder an even bigger load, as he now becomes the lone fear-inducing weapon in the Raiders’ offense. Jeanty broke out against the Texans last week and reminded plenty of people about his ability as a receiver.
“You're always trying to set plays up, obviously, in the league, and we have had him out wide, and the good thing about him, he's able to do multiple things as a wide receiver flexed out, and we're finding that out a little bit more about him. Certainly, something we could have been doing all season…But still, just as we talked about last week, trying to find ways to get the ball into our playmakers' hands, and losing Brock [Bowers] this week certainly hurts us because he's one of our biggest playmakers, but we'll still have some other guys that'll need to step up, and Ashton becomes one of the primary playmakers for us. So, we'll continue to find ways to get the ball into his hands."
After all, Jeanty led all FBS running backs in receiving yards during his junior year at Boise State, and Geno Smith echoed that versatility this week.
"I really think he could play receiver. I think he could be a slot receiver in this league. He's got great hands. He's great out of the backfield. He understands spacing, and he just knows what to do. I mean, you can tell he understands the game, and when he gets the ball in his hands, whether that's in the backfield or in the catching game, he's so explosive and dynamic. And so, however we can get him the ball in space, that's what we try to do, and you see what he does when he gets that opportunity."
All signs point to Jeanty being featured even more in the passing game this week against the Giants. Don’t overlook undrafted rookie tight end Carter Runyon either. With Bowers out, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas will get the first crack at snaps, but Runyon’s role has quietly grown in recent weeks — and the team clearly likes what it’s seen out of him.
BROCK AND MAXX MAKE THE PRO BOWL
Photo Courtesy: Raiders
Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers earned Pro Bowl honors this week. For Crosby, it’s his fifth straight Pro Bowl selection and another reminder of just how consistently dominant he’s been. Heading into Week 17, he ranks second in the NFL with 28 tackles for loss, leads the Raiders in sacks (10.0) and quarterback hits (20), and is tied for the lead with six pass deflections, too.
Bowers also earns his second consecutive Pro Bowl nod and continues to be one of the few bright spots in this Raiders offense. Even after missing three games with a knee injury, he still leads the team in receptions (64), receiving yards (680), and receiving touchdowns (seven).
Be sure to watch Maxx Crosby’s media availability from this week in the video linked below, courtesy of our friends at Vegas Sports Today, where he talks about his journey from a fourth-round pick to one of the league’s most consistent pass rushers.
MISS ANYTHING?
Catch up on some of our recent stories:
 Progress in a Loss: What the Raiders Showed vs. Houston— Jeanty’s breakout, defensive adjustments, and a loss that finally felt different. |  Pete & Geno’s Future, the Rebuild Blueprint, and Porter's Progress— Hard truths about Pete and Geno, a rebuild blueprint, and what Darien Porter is showing. |
RAIDERS ROUNDERS
THE BEST BETS OF THE WEEK FOR THE GIANTS VS. RAIDERS 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.
The Raiders were -1.5 favorites when Matt and I taped our weekly “Raiders Rounders” segment this week and after placing Brock Bowers and Jeremy Chinn on IR things turned and the Giants are now -1.5 favorites. Having said that, Matt’s said he wouldn’t touch this game with a 10 foot pole.
“If you're putting money down on this, bless you. I'm proud of you because I can't, I cannot, I will not get to the window with the Raiders this week. I couldn't get to the window last week with the 14. I mean, the trends were all going against the Raiders because now teams on the second leg of a back to back where they've been double digit favorites are now 3-0 ATS on the season. These are prideful men. These are not guys that are going to work wanting to lose. They are paid to win football games. So they're going to give their best effort. I think the Raiders are worse than the Giants, but at home and after that performance (against the Texans), I think there's a touch and a taste of success that will help practice, help these guys get going for this week. And the Giants are already packing for Aruba.”
⚠️ 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/Fan Shotz
“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 Ashton Jeanty breaking through the hole on a run play this season. Jeanty’s coming off of a big game against the Texans where he racked up 188 total yards and a pair of touchdowns so I figured it was fitting ot feature the kid this week. The Giants are second to last in the league in rushing yards allowed per game, giving up 150.9 yards per game, so let’s see if Jeanty can string a pair of big games together in a favorable matchup this weekend.
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?
It’s Christmas week so we’re taking it easy to close out the week with family and friends ahead of the game against the Giants.
So next time you see us we’ll be out at Allegiant Stadium wrapping up the results of the Raider’ game agaisnt the Giants with the top pick hanging in the balance.
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.
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