The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t been a competitive football team since their Week 10 loss to the Denver Broncos. The Houston Texans have been on a hot streak, so it looked like it could be another long day for the Raiders in Week 16.
However, that wasn’t the case. The Raiders were competitive throughout the contest, but lost 23-21 in the end. It was the most impressive offensive performance the team has had since scoring 29 points in the Week 9 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prior to the Texans game, head coach Pete Carroll was asked if the Raiders needed to rebuild. He acknowledged that it is probably what the team needs to get back on track. At 74, it’s fair to question if Carroll would want to oversee a years-long rebuild.
He has rebuilt teams before, but he’s much older now. While the Raiders might want to go younger at head coach to oversee the franchise going forward, Carroll made it clear that he likes working for the team and is hopeful to be a part of the rebuild.
“I would love to,” Carroll said after the game when asked if he wanted to stay for the rebuild. “I really like this place, and I like this team, and I love working with (John Spytek).”
Raiders Finally Show Signs of Life
The biggest reason that it looked like Carroll was on borrowed time with the Raiders is that the team hasn’t been competitive. Just a week ago, the team lost 31-0 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
There was no reason to be optimistic about what Carroll was building. However, against the Texans, there were finally some encouraging signs.
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was excellent, having 128 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown and a 60-yard receiving touchdown. Star tight end Brock Bowers also had a touchdown. The Texans have the best defense in the NFL, according to Carroll, so it was an impressive showing.
The defense also played well. The Raiders outgained the Texans 315 to 270. What sank the Raiders was an early pick-six thrown by Geno Smith and the fact that they had nine penalties for 85 yards.
Does Carroll Have Any Chance of Keeping His Job?
While the Raiders played well, they still lost the game and are tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-13. There are two games left, and if the Raiders lose both, it’s hard to see a scenario where Carroll is brought back.
He’s a proven winner as a head coach, but he just doesn’t fit the Raiders’ timeline. The upcoming rebuild could take years. Now, it is a weak pool of head coaching candidates. It’s possible the Raiders look at the field and don’t see somebody they believe will be an upgrade over Carroll.
That said, Las Vegas also can’t afford to keep wasting time. The biggest thing working against Carroll is that he hasn’t done a good job developing the young talent on the roster. He still favors playing struggling veterans over giving rookies a chance to play. That’s not the right strategy for a 2-13 team to have in a lost season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Pete Carroll Delivers Statement on Raiders Future After Texans Loss appeared first on Heavy Sports.