The Silver and Black are in a weird spot. Honestly, if you're a fan, last year was a tough watch. The Raiders record last year finished at a dismal 3-14. It wasn’t just the losses; it was how they happened. One week you’re thinking they’ve turned a corner with a gritty win, and the next, the wheels completely fall off. By the time the dust settled on the 2025 season, the team was sitting at the bottom of the AFC West, staring at the No. 1 overall pick for the 2026 NFL Draft.
It's kinda wild when you look at the names involved. You had Pete Carroll, the legendary "energy guy," coming out of a short-lived executive role to take the head coaching job. You had Geno Smith, a guy who revitalized his career in Seattle, under center. On paper, it looked like a "win-now" push. In reality? It was a disaster that ended with Carroll being shown the door just one day after the season ended.
Breaking Down the Raiders Record Last Year
The season actually started with a glimmer of hope. In Week 1, the Raiders traveled to Foxborough and beat the New England Patriots 20-13. Fans were buzzed. Maybe the Pete Carroll magic was real? But that high didn’t last long. They dropped the next four games, including a humiliating 40-6 blowout against the Colts.
The inconsistencies were maddening. You'd see Maxx Crosby absolutely wrecking plays—he finished with 10 sacks despite battling injuries—but the offense just couldn't stay on the field. They went through a stretch from November to December where they lost eight games in a row. Eight. That’s the kind of streak that breaks a locker room.
- Final Record: 3-14
- Division Standing: 4th in AFC West
- Home Record: 2-7
- Road Record: 1-7
Interestingly, they actually finished the year on a high note, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12 in Week 18. It was a classic "too little, too late" scenario, but it did give the fans at Allegiant Stadium one last reason to cheer before the inevitable offseason firing of the coaching staff.
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Why the Offense Stalled Out
If you want to know why the Raiders record last year was so bad, you have to look at the line. The Raiders allowed 64 sacks. That’s basically asking your quarterback to play behind a revolving door. Geno Smith, despite his veteran savvy, struggled under that kind of pressure, tossing 17 interceptions against 19 touchdowns.
Chip Kelly was brought in as the offensive coordinator to inject some tempo and creativity. It didn't take. The Raiders finished dead last in the league in scoring offense, averaging a measly 14.2 points per game. They never once scored 30 points in a single game. Not once.
The bright spots were few, but they were bright. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was a workhorse, racking up 975 rushing yards behind a struggling line. And Brock Bowers? The kid is the real deal. He led the team with 7 touchdowns and proved he’s one of the best young tight ends in the game. But when your offensive line is giving up nearly four sacks a game, it's hard for those playmakers to actually, well, make plays.
The Pete Carroll Experiment and the Front Office
Mark Davis took a massive swing hiring Pete Carroll. The idea was to bring a culture of winning and stability after the Antonio Pierce era was cut short. It felt like a "Tom Brady influence" move, especially with John Spytek coming in as the new GM. Spytek and Brady have history from their Tampa days, and the hope was they could replicate that "overnight success" model.
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It backfired. Reports surfaced throughout the season that Carroll and Spytek weren't exactly on the same page regarding roster construction. Carroll wanted his specific "types" of players, while Spytek was looking at the long-term cap health. By December, the tension was palpable.
When the Raiders fired Carroll on January 5, 2026, it marked the third year in a row the team had axed its head coach. That’s not a stat you want. It signals a lack of vision at the top. Fans are rightfully tired of the "rebuild" talk every 12 months, but with the worst winning percentage for the franchise since 2006, change was the only option.
Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
The numbers don't lie, and for the Raiders, they're pretty ugly. They finished with a -7 turnover ratio. You can't win in the NFL if you're giving the ball away more than you take it.
Defensively, Patrick Graham’s unit was better than the offense, but they still gave up 25.4 points per game. Devin White was a tackling machine in the middle, recording 174 total tackles, but the secondary was often left exposed because the pass rush (outside of Crosby) was non-existent. Malcolm Koonce chipped in 4.5 sacks, but they needed way more from the interior to help the DBs.
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What’s Next for the Silver and Black?
Now that the 2025 nightmare is over, the focus shifts to the 1st overall pick. Most experts expect them to take a quarterback. You can't pass on a franchise arm when you're sitting at the top of the draft, especially with Geno Smith turning 35 and entering the final stages of his career.
The team has over $100 million in cap space. That is a massive chunk of change. They need to fix the offensive line—specifically the guard and tackle spots opposite Kolton Miller. If they don't protect whoever they draft at No. 1, they’ll be right back in this position next year.
Actionable Next Steps for Raiders Fans:
- Watch the Coaching Search: The team needs a developer, not a "big name" retiree. Look for names linked to successful young QBs.
- Monitor the O-Line Market: Free agency starts in March. If the Raiders aren't aggressive here, the draft won't matter.
- Scout the Top QBs: Since they hold the No. 1 pick, start looking at the top collegiate passers. This pick will define the next decade of Raiders football.
The Raiders record last year was a wake-up call. The "quick fix" of veteran coaches and bridge quarterbacks didn't work. Now, the organization is forced to do what they’ve avoided for years: a ground-up, total rebuild with a rookie centerpiece. It’s a scary time to be a fan, but at least the No. 1 pick offers a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.