Raiders’ midseason report: A bad beginning, a lost season
It began, one could argue, in the early hours of Sept. 1, when it became known that the Raiders had traded edge rusher Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears.
Until then, there had been optimism, at least externally, that with a returning core and an intriguing offense the Raiders could recapture some of their past success under returning coach Jon Gruden.
Halfway through Gruden’s first season, the Raiders are 1-7, coming off a 34-3 blowout loss to the neighboring 49ers, their lone victory having come against a Browns team that has since fired its head coach.
The Raiders rank 31st in the league in scoring defense and last in yards allowed per play. Their offense has not scored a touchdown in two of their last three games.