After three weeks of professional football games, there are six teams with no wins, and the Oakland Raiders are, surprisingly to most, not one of them. Though they fell to a record of 1-2 after last night’s game in Denver, one cannot forget that: facing Denver Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning isn’t a simple task. As seen in Monday night’s loss, the Raiders’ defense needed definite improvement, but their offense did not stay completely silent. So why are the Raiders considered one of the worst teams in the NFL this season?

According to the power rankings given earlier this year, the Raiders are expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season for quite a number of reasons. Since the 2004-2005 season, the Oakland Raiders have had six head coaches, all with a win percentage of less than .387, except for Hue Jackson who led the Raiders to an 8-8 record in 2011. Aside from poor personnel, continuous bad player contracts and difficult injuries are hindering their growth. “The most intriguing situation may be McFadden’s. He’s been unable to reach his potential because he’s been plagued by injuries during his five seasons in Oakland” (CBS Sports). McFadden did throw a 16-yard touchdown pass against the Broncos, but overall has not been very effective as a running back.

Though the Raiders keep striving for success, they still have many troubles with regard to the entire franchise. With detrimental injuries and the lack of an instrumental coach and overall productive players, it is unlikely that the Raiders will reach their goals in becoming a powerhouse in the NFL anytime soon.

Image: Mike Lucas Sports