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In Week 10, The Raiders would meet the expectations of their coach of 8 wins for the season but also keep intact Stoops perfect 100% win record over the Denver Broncos, with a record of 4-0 in two seasons. The Raiders would shine on offence, but a point must be noted that despite the Raiders having the best offence in the league in regards to points scored they also have the worst defence in regards to points conceded. The win would see Aaron Rodgers claim his 400th career Touchdown. Rodgers wouldn't be the one to make the claim, but rookie WR Jeudy would joke and say that if Rodgers stayed in Vegas for a few more years he would be more than happy to help him join the 500 club.
Week 11 however would be an especially tough day out for the Raiders who would find themselves on the road at the Chargers. Not only would the Chargers run riot on the Raiders and bring an end to their 8-win streak, but also Aaron Rodgers would find himself looking nothing short of a victim as he would be sacked 9 times in the game as it seemed his team were simply unable to protect him in the pocket.
16 - 52
Las Vegas Raiders
3
7
3
3
16
Los Angeles Chargers
9
17
14
14
52
To make matter worse the Raiders would return to Las Vegas to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who entered with a record of 1-11 although you wouldn't have known it by the manner in which Tampa Bay as they would put some major points on the board on what was a back and forth game. With the Raiders needing to score a touchdown with less than 1/2 a minute on the clock, Aaron Rodgers would make an absolute blunder which would leave everyone stunned as the Buccaneers would claim only their second win of the season in Week 12. When Mark Stoops was asked what he thought about Chris Collinsworth's prediction coming true, he would make it clear that he paid no intention to what the media had to say especially from former players that had never actually achieved anything of merit in the Merit. Stoops would seem to be incensed by the reference and make it clear that if Collingsworth was such a mind reader, why hadn't he ever considered going into coach seeing as it might be the only way he got close to winning the Super Bowl.
41 - 38
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10
7
3
21
41
Las Vegas Raiders
7
7
7
17
38
In the day following the embarrassing loss to Tampa Bay, it would emerge that Nick Nelson had torn his MCL (Medial collateral ligament) that he would be out for 48 weeks and was placed on the Injury Reserve. Jarno Stormberd would confirm that the Raiders would be looking for a free agent who would act as cover for the CB.
Week 13 would see the Raiders play host to the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time this season and there was clearly a real important for the Raiders to win this crucial divisional game. As it stood both team had a record of 8-3, but the Raiders had a better points difference. A loss to the Chief could mean that for second year in a row, the Raiders could pass up on 1st place finish in the AFC due to a loss to a divisional rival. So when the two clashed, in a similar nature to the Raiders last fixture with Tampa, the game was very back and forth with a number of touchdown. And time seemed to be against the Raiders, who found themselves down by just one point, with 0:20 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts remaining. Jonathan Song would step up to take the FG, but the rookie kicker would kick wide resulting in a heartbreaking loss for the raiders who were now on a three game losing streak. To make matters worse the Chargers would win their game meaning that despite have a record of 8-4, the Raiders in just two game had fallen from 1st to 3rd in the AFC West.
48 - 47
Kansas City Chiefs
7
14
3
24
48
Las Vegas Raiders
14
14
10
9
47
[Tyrell Williams Voted As The Las Vegas Raiders' MVP for the third 1/4 of the season]
Despite the the current losing streak, Mark Stoop would host an important press conference the morning after the loss to the Chiefs.
Stoops would make it clear that he left the college game with an understanding of the importance of young players and that he had a long-term plan of creating a positive culture within the Raiders Franchise, and that he felt that players like Jeudy, Hopkins, Moreau, Renfrow, Jacobs were all perfect example of offensive players that could realistically be working alongside each other for the next fifteen years if they were all to remain healthy. Stoop would make it clear that he had been brought in to fix a sinking ship, and that his goal last season had been eight wins - and he had achieved ten. So his first season in his eyes had been a success.
This season his goal had been eight wins once again, and that goal had been achieved with four games to spare. Stoop would make the point that his culture of football was first to create a side capable of scoring points, and would make it clear that with a veteran QB like Rodgers as it stood the Raiders were able to achieve this goal although in the future they would need a prospect for the future. However, Stoops said that next season there would be a real intention of having a much more solid defence because being the worst in the league was not an accolade he was happy with.
When the point was made that Stoops wouldn't have any draft picks until the Third Round, he would respond that this was a situation he had inherited in the same manner as he had been fortunate to have three first round picks in the last draft. Stoop would say head coaches were forever finding themselves dealing with problems of the past, and it took time to make sure everything in the local environment followed your mantra. Stoops would thank everyone for their time and depart.
The Raiders would get the turn around they needed and bring an end to their slump of form as they played host to the Houston Texans (Week 14). The output of the Raiders was impressive, but it was clear that Mark Stoop and Stormberd were much happier with the way in which there defence performed with Strong Safety Karl Joseph and the recently signed free agent Mike Ford (CB) both be praised for make 11 tackles each. The Raiders had conceded the most point out of anyone in the league and although their points scored was impressive, it seems clear that the Raiders are really trying to impressive this aspect of their game.
25 - 58
Houston Texans
0
15
3
7
25
Las Vegas Raiders
14
17
17
10
58
The Week 15 game would see Oakland travel to Buffalo (who currently have the best record in the league of 10-3 - it would also be announced that the Bills had already qualified for the playoffs and had decided to rest a number of key players in preparations for the playoffs.) However, in a similar fashion to most Raiders game this season it was another high points game. Although the Q1 would caused a lot of concern for Raider fans as Aaron Rodgers would leave the field inured (and would not return to the field). Staying truth to previous expectations the Raiders would choose to send in 3rd choice QB Brian Hoyer (rather than Ryan Fitzpatrick) and Hoyer who would feature for the first time this season would clearly recognise this was his moment to impress and go on to throw three passing touchdowns from 311 yds (19/24). The win would also take the Raiders to 10-4 in the season match the number of win that the Raiders achieved in 2019.
44 - 36
Las Vegas Raiders
9
27
3
11
44
Buffalo Bills
3
7
7
19
36
Week 16 for the Las Vegas Raiders would be one where a decision would finally be made regarding Aaron Rodgers's backup. It would emerge that Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer were both not being offered contract renewals for the new season, as instead the Raiders had decided to sign Tyree Jackson who had found himself as a member of the Viking's Practise Squad. Jarno Stormberd would make it clear, that Jackson had a large amount of potential and that he was an untapped resourced.
[Tyree Jackson]
As the Raiders travelled to the the Jets the focus would remain on the the QBs, although this time it would be on Aaron Rodgers who would equal his 2011 TD Record for the season (45) before throwing the pass to Tyrell Williams to surpass his own record. Along with rushing touchdowns from Jacobs and Richard it would be confirmed that the Raiders had earned themselves a wildcard spot at the minimum with one week left of the regular season.
34 - 44
New York Jets
3
21
3
7
34
Las Vegas Raiders
7
14
10
3
44
Mark Stoop's Las Vegas Raiders would go in to Week 17 with the knowledge that who ever won in their road game against the Kansas Chiefs would finish 1st in the AFC West (something they hadn't achieved since 2002). It would also see the Brandon Marshall return from injury. The first two quarters were proving to be tight, with the Raiders up by seven points at half-time 28-21 in what was a one score game and anyone's game to win (Antonio Brown, Moreau, Hopkins and Jeudy had all been on the end of receiving touchdowns.)
The second half would prove to be very different as Crowell (who was playing for the rested Jacobs) as well as Rodgers would claim a rushing touchdown each. The man who would really shine was FB Jalen Richards who would score three rushing touchdowns that would put allow the Raiders to celebrate in style in their rivals backyard as they would achieve their first AFC West #1 finish in eighteen years. The only negative would see Maurice Hurst (DT) fracture his arm and new surface he would be not feature in the playoffs. The win would also confirm that the Raiders advance to the Divisional Playoffs. Aaron Rodgers would also ties Tom Brady's 2007 Record of 50 Touchdown for the regular season.
69 - 34
Las Vegas Raiders
14
10
28
17
69
Kansas City Chiefs
10
7
7
10
34
AFC WEST
W
L
%
Points Difference
Las Vegas Raiders
12
4
0.750
+200
Kansas City Chiefs
10
6
0.625
+87
Los Angeles Chargers
9
7
0.563
+24
Denver Broncos
6
10
0.375
-101
With a week of rest available the Raiders would be able to take a much needed rest during Wild Card week. It would also see the Raiders announce Josh Jacobs as their MVP for the 4th quarter of the season as the second year pro had run for 812 yards and scored 13 touchdown for the season.
[Josh Jacobs Voted As The Las Vegas Raiders' MVP for the fourth 1/4 of the season]
Results From Wild Card Week:
Cleveland Browns 28 - 16 Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers31 - 0 Green Bay Packers
Kansas City Chiefs 17 - 35 Indianapolis Colts
Arizona Cardinals 23 - 35 Carolina Panthers
Following Wild Card weekend The Las Vegas Raiders would discover they would be playing the Cleveland Browns (9-6-1) and it would be made clear by the Las Vegas Coaching Staff that for the second season in a row, that Raiders have overachieved and everything from here on out was a bonus.
I almost feel responsible - they 100% regret allowing Rodgers to leave. I also find myself in a position where even if I manage to somehow beat the Browns, I feel that I am going to torn a new one by the Giants/Colts no matter what. Although Jeudy has become an insane player already, and Hopkins is like a Mini Gronkowski.
With home advantage against the Cleveland Browns, the Raiders would actually go into the game as the favourites although there would certainly be doubt in some people's mind as if the Raiders were really capable of taking the regular season form and continuing into the playoffs. The Raiders came out from the gates and looked phenomenal in the first half as they would totally swamp the Browns, and for the first time this season actually look as though their defence was going to hold the gates for once as the first half would end with the Raiders winning 31-3. Mark Stoop seemed so confident in the Raiders that Jacobs (RB), Brown (WR) & Rodgers (QB) would all be benched for the remainder of the game, with a clear intention of protecting the trio from injury this would result recent QB acquisition Tyree Jackson starting in a fashion that the franchise would have been looking for, as he would throw three passing touchdowns in a game in which the Las Vegas never looked as if they were going to lose. Odell Beckham Jr. would be spotted in the final quarter of the game throwing a full tantrum on the sideline and was sent to the locker-room area to cool down. The win would be Stoop's first career win in the playoffs, but also the fewest points that the Raiders had conceded in in the 2020 season.
19 - 61
Cleveland Browns
0
3
7
9
19
Las Vegas Raiders
17
14
14
16
61
Results From The Divisional Round:
San Francisco 49ers 7 - 35New York Giants
Indianapolis Colts28 - 10 Cincinnati Bengals
Carolina Panthers 21 - 28 Seattle Seahawks
With confirmation that the Colts had beaten the Bengals, the Raiders would find themselves just one game away from Super Bowl LV but in order to exceed all expectation they would find themselves playing Indianapolis. The Colts were last year's winners and so this game had an extra pressure with it being evidently clear from the way in which Colts Owner Jim Irsay was looking forward to the Colts keeping the Vince Lombardi for another season. The game itself would be a hard fought contest and the Raiders really put all they had into the game with Jeudy and Williams both scoring passing touchdowns. However, the Colts really restricted the Raiders offence which was really represented by Jonathan Song have five field goals to his name. The Raiders played to the best of their ability, but the point must be raised that the Las Vegas franchise were never in the lead for any period of the game and played on the back foot from the get go. The Colts will play the New York Giants at Super Bowl LV, with the Giants having defeated the Seahawks 21-24.
44 - 30
Indianapolis Colts
3
17
7
17
44
Las Vegas Raiders
3
3
13
11
30
Mark Stoop would find himself invited to coach in the Pro Bowl again, although unlike last season there number of Las Vegas Raiders players invited to take part had increased massively going from two picks to twelve picks that would include: Rodgers (QB), Richard (FB), Brown (WR1), Williams (WR2), Jeudy (WR3), Brycen Hopkins (TE), Hudson (C), Burfict (ROLB), Joyner (FS), Key (RE), Lawson (C) & Song (K). When Stoop was asked about out of all the Raiders that had been nominated which many was most proud of. Stoop had been expected to say either Jeudy or Hopkins who had both shown their value as first round picks, but Stoop answer would be a clear indication of the type of football coach he is.
Stoop would make it clear that for Jalen Richard to be chosen as the Fullback for the AFC just proved what an incredible season that Richard has had. Richard previously had been be a reserve RB with only a handful of starts to his name. Stoop would make it clear that at the end of last season, he had come to a realisation that Richard was a man who could very easily transition into the FB position and didn't feel the need to bring in a FB specialist when he felt that Richard already had all the skill needed to play in the role. Stoop would make it clear that with Richard being selected for the Pro Bowl it put all the other Fullback Specialists in the league on blast. The Pro Bowl Game itself would see the AFC win keeping their win streak over the NFC to five games winning 41-24 with Raiders Rodgers and Brown combined to score four touchdown as a passing receiving pair.
The following weeks the Colts would defeated the Giants 24 - 21 to win back-to-back Super Crowns.
Despite falling short at the final hurdle there could be no denying that the Las Vegas Raiders had an amazing season and there form over the last two season would suggest that perhaps a Super Bowl appearance was a realistic possibility again. Aaron Rodgers would win the accolade of the NFL MVP (winning the prize for the third time in his career) whilst Mark Stoop would turn a few head when he was announced as the NFL Coach of the Year (12-4). When Stoop was asked how he felt about this prize, he made it clear that his first priority was the 2021 Draft. Once, he knew which players he would have next season then he would have time consider what it meant to have an award on his bookshelf.
