The Oakland Raiders square off with the Chargers today in a meaningless game and here is your game day open thread – the Festivus edition.
It’s kind of sad really, when you stop and think about it. The Oakland Raiders still have eight games left to play in the 2018 campaign, but have pretty much been all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Between the Raiders and the Giants, it’s a race to the bottom.
But, the fact remains – this team does still have eight games left to play.
Naturally, when things are going this bad, the crowd usually starts looking for a scapegoat. Somebody must pay for this debacle and the crowd needs blood and somebody to burn in effigy — or just troll them relentlessly on Twitter. Right?
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The easy pick, of course, is (former?) favorite son, Jon Gruden. After all, he’s the one who came in with a chainsaw, sledgehammer, and duct tape – and then proceeded to demolish the roster and put it back together again with bubble gum, bailing wire, and the aforementioned duct tape.
But, the problems go a lot deeper than just Gruden.
There is plenty of blame to go around. GM Reggie McKenzie deserves plenty of blame for burning draft picks on busts and putting together a roster – who did have one good season – but hasn’t been good enough to even qualify for paper tiger status.
McKenzie has proven to be a master at handing out contracts that are attractive to free agents, and fiscally sound. He has not hamstrung this club with outrageously bloated contracts.
However, he has also proven to be utterly inept when it comes to identifying and drafting playmakers.
For all of the good he’s done getting the Raiders back on stable financial footing after Al Davis’ jumbled and incoherent final years, he’s left the cupboards incredibly bare in terms of actual talent.
You can also put some of the blame on injuries that have decimated the offensive line, and has allowed quarterback Derek Carr to absorb a beating.
You can even blame Carr himself who’s become less of the wild gunslinger who could lead a team back from the brink, and more Captain Checkdown – think of a milquetoast version of Alex Smith.
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Injuries have also taken a toll on the defensive side of the ball with guys like Justin Ellis, one of the team’s most reliable run stoppers, out for most of the year – though it’s being suggested he’ll be back soon.
And oh yeah, terrible signings like Reggie Nelson and Derrick Johnson – among others – have done a lot to help cripple this defense.
Basically, the point is that there is an awful lot of blame that can be passed around when assessing why this season has gone from one of hope and excitement to one of chaos and dysfunction. You can point to almost anybody in this organization as a reason for the dumpster fire this season has become and you wouldn’t be wrong.
Which brings us to the purpose of today’s open thread – which is a theme that will very likely be repeated as the season progresses before mercifully coming to an end.
Yes, Festivus, that wonderful made up TV holiday, doesn’t come for another month or so – not that it’s stopped people from putting up Christmas decorations and playing Christmas music already. But, as Raiders fans, we need to vent and purge – and not purge in that brutally murderous movie kind of way.
So, with today’s game with the Chargers looming – and very possibly yet another L in the offing, in this three-alarm dumpster fire of a season, it’s time to take the advice of 80’s pop group Tears for Fears, and “Shout, Shout, Let it All Out.”
We’re all going to celebrate Festivus early – and often – here at GGS, from now, until the Raiders’ 2018 campaign is finally and mercifully put down like Ol’ Yeller.
So, please, feel free to talk about the game against the Chargers today, as well as all things Raiders football. But, perhaps more importantly, let us come together to air our grievances about this year’s iteration of the team we all know and love.
What really irks you about how this season has played out? Where do you put most of the blame? What really enrages you, as a fan, about how bad this team has been?
Let’s hear it, folks. Let’s celebrate Festivus a bit early. It’s time to air your grievances, Raider Nation…