Raiders coach Jon Gruden might have erred on the side of illogical Sunday, but his faith in a struggling defense paid off in a 31-26 win.
Ed Graney
Sports columnist
Email: egraney@reviewjournal.com
Phone: (702) 383-4618
X: @edgraney
Ed Graney came to the Review-Journal in May of 2006 as its lead sports columnist. He has covered all major sporting events, including Super Bowls to NBA championships to every Final Four since 1995. Graney also covered the Olympic Games in Beijing (2008) and London (2012). A graduate of San Diego State University, he is a five-time Nevada Sportswriter of the Year and past winner of Associated Press Sports Editors Top 10 for columns. He and wife Bonnie have two children, a son (Tristan) and daughter (Bridget).
Grading the Raiders’ 31-26 road victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that gave them a 5-3 record midway through the season.
In a year when the NFL has added an extra wild-card spot, Las Vegas should compete for a playoff berth.
The NFL reportedly fined the Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden a total of $650,000 while stripping them of a draft pick for repeated COVID-19 violations.
Senior quarterback Max Gilliam is expected to start his third straight game of this young season when UNLV hosts Fresno State on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas disregarded its history of cowering to challenging climates in beating Cleveland 16-6 on Sunday before 10,972 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The Raiders passed the blustery road test with flying colors.
Something is amiss with the former first-round pick out of Alabama, who is averaging just 65.7 yards per game and 3.4 per carry.
It was November of 2001 when Marcus Arroyo torched the Wolf Pack as quarterback for San Jose State.
What if the defensive issues aren’t about coaching at all, but rather who is being asked to make plays?
Moments after a 45-20 loss to Tampa Bay, the Raiders head coach suggested he will make changes to an underperforming defense.
The Raiders had 24 rushes for 76 yards Sunday against the Buccaneers, who have the NFL’s best run defense, and Josh Jacobs was held to 17 yards on 10 carries.
New eras have to start somewhere. This particular one did for Marcus Arroyo and UNLV football in a 34-6 loss to San Diego State on Saturday night in Carson, California.
It was in February of 2002 when the Oakland Raiders sent Gruden to Tampa Bay in exchange for draft picks and a cool $8 million.
Every five years or so, someone else is hired to assume the role of UNLV head football coach. Marcus Arroyo is next up.