Josh McDaniels was anything but a controversy-free choice when the Las Vegas Raiders hired him to be the head coach, replacing the popular interim coach, Rich Bisaccia. Of course, a successful season would have erased those concerns. Unfortunately for McDaniels and the Raiders, the season has been anything but successful. Amazingly, it got worse in Week 10 against the Indianapolis Colts.
It seemed like a perfect game for the Raiders to win. The game was in Las Vegas, the Colts were 3-5-1 and had just fired their head coach and controversially replaced him with Jeff Saturday, an analyst with no coaching experience beyond the high school level. The Raiders even had motivation from comments Saturday made shortly before becoming Indianapolis’ head coach. None of that mattered.
Breaking a trend from McDaniels’ tenure, the Raiders trailed 10-0 early but fought back to take the lead. Jonathan Taylor then broke a long touchdown run to put the Colts back ahead, but Las Vegas answered with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Davante Adams, retaking the lead.
Then, things went haywire on an unbelievable three-play sequence.
Matt Ryan, returning to the starting role, picked up a first down with a 39-yard run. The Raiders had a chance to effectively ice the game on the following play, when Michael Pittman Jr. fumbled. But while the ball bounced right to linebacker Darien Butler, neither he or any of his teammates could corral the loose ball. One play later, the Colts made the Raiders pay.
On the next play, Matt Ryan and Parris Campbell connect for the go-ahead touchdownpic.twitter.com/8Sz88nsA6c
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
The game wasn’t over. Las Vegas drove the ball into Indianapolis territory and had a chance to score the go-ahead touchdown. But, it wasn’t meant to be.
No flag thrown. Jeff Saturday — who might have been on to something with the Raiders — wins his debut. pic.twitter.com/RU5PQhg804
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 14, 2022
McDaniels’ Wikipedia page was hacked in the immediate aftermath of the loss.
Josh McDaniels gets the Wikipedia treatment. pic.twitter.com/IgiY8bZenh
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 14, 2022
But Wikipedia wasn’t the only place where McDaniels was getting roasted. The NFL world absolutely lit McDaniels up.
Everyone and their mother was screaming at the Raiders to keep Rich Bisaccia as their head coach, yet they chose to bring in Josh McDaniels.
This decision is as disastrous as Napoleon trying to invade Russia before winter.
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) November 14, 2022
Raiders just lost to a Get Up analyst so it can always be worse
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 14, 2022
Josh Mcdaniels you’ve skated long enough ! I’m gone have to get ya before these holidays because I wanna be nice during that time 🤦🏾♂️
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) November 13, 2022
Raiders had their coach fired for some 1950s style racism in the middle of last season and made the playoffs with a coach whose name I genuinely do not remember
and Josh McDaniels can’t even beat a dude who was in production meetings last Sunday
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) November 13, 2022
“More than happy to put in a good word for you at my old job” pic.twitter.com/PDrNCNNI8N
— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) November 14, 2022
Josh McDaniels’ team just lost to a team with a first-time head coach whose only prior coaching experience was at a high school.
McDaniels now has a 7-24 coaching record since his 6-0 start with the Broncos in 2009.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 14, 2022
Jeff Saturday beating Josh McDaniels proves that the only thing worse than hiring with absolutely zero coaching experience is hiring someone with experience coaching under Bill Belichick
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 14, 2022
In 2021, the Raiders made the playoffs. This was despite dealing with the most turbulent season imaginable.
Now, they are 2-7. McDaniels may keep his job but if he does, it won’t be a performance based decision.
Josh McDaniels arriving to work tomorrow knowing Mark Davis ain’t paying a 3 year buyout pic.twitter.com/u3T4e3NTjn
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) November 14, 2022
This team hits a new low on a seemingly weekly basis. While this may seem impossible, the situation in Las Vegas may get even worse if things don’t drastically change quickly.
