Introduction: A New Era Already Under Fire

When the Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll, the move carried a bold mixture of curiosity, hope, and uncertainty. Carroll was supposed to bring experience, stability, accountability, and a proven blueprint for success. He was supposed to restore order, toughen the culture, and ignite a franchise that had repeatedly cycled through head coaches, coordinators, quarterbacks, and philosophies without ever building something sustainable. Instead, the Raiders now find themselves trapped in a frustrating narrative that feels painfully familiar. Another big defeat, this one a spiraling collapse that unfolded in the same ways their previous losses have, has left a fan base exasperated and a head coach out of excuses.

This loss was not about bad luck. It was not about refereeing errors, injury adversity, controversial penalties, or opponent brilliance. It was about structure, preparation, execution, and leadership — the very traits Carroll was hired to strengthen. And as the Raiders left the field, quietly, angrily, and with the unmistakable heaviness of a group that understands its own culpability, one truth echoed above all others: Pete Carroll has no one to blame but himself.

A Loss That Looked Just Like the Others

One of the most frustrating realities inside the Raiders organization is how predictable their shortcomings have become. This most recent defeat looked painfully similar to the losses that preceded it. The first quarter showed flashes — disciplined routes, crisp movement, defensive aggression. But those flashes faded quickly. By the second quarter, the same cracks that have defined their season reappeared: miscommunication between offensive linemen, defensive backs passing off coverages too slowly, play calls arriving too late, and players reacting instead of anticipating.

The Raiders are not talentless. They are not rebuilding from scratch. They have star-caliber players at multiple positions, including elite-level contributors capable of swinging games when supported by coherent, well-executed strategy. But what continues to plague them is structural instability — the very thing Carroll was expected to eliminate.

Instead of rising to the moment, the Raiders collapsed under pressure yet again. They lost composure. They lost rhythm. They lost belief. And all of these issues were eerily consistent with the problems that have surfaced at multiple points throughout the season.

Pete Carroll’s Defensive Identity Has Not Appeared

When the Raiders hired Carroll, much of the league expected a revitalized defensive identity. Carroll’s reputation as a defensive powerhouse — shaped by the Legion of Boom era and the disciplined, physical units he developed in Seattle — was a major part of the appeal. Analysts expected the Raiders to become faster, tougher, more aggressive, and more consistent defensively.

But the reality has been shockingly different. The defense looks lost, hesitant, and prone to breakdowns in critical moments. Coverage busts occur with startling frequency. Tackling is inconsistent. Situational awareness collapses on crucial third downs. Opponents regularly find open receivers in soft pockets of zone coverage, or they exploit misaligned defenders who appear unsure of whether to blitz, drop, or match routes.

This repeated lack of cohesion points directly to coaching. The defensive communication looks fractured, and the players rarely demonstrate the clarity Carroll’s defenses are known for. Losing in the NFL is one thing. Losing in the same way every week is something else entirely.

Carroll’s greatest strength as a coach was his ability to unify defensive identity. In Las Vegas, that identity has not appeared.

Offensive Disarray Points Back to Leadership

While Carroll is a defensive-minded coach, head coaches are responsible for the entire operation. And the Raiders’ offense under his tenure has been anything but consistent.

The play calling often appears reactive rather than proactive. Drives stall due to predictable sequences or improperly timed aggression. The quarterback play has been uneven, in part because of inconsistent protection but also because the offensive system has not provided structure or rhythm. Receivers run routes that rarely create natural conflict in defenses. The running game disappears for long stretches before reappearing in desperation mode.

There is no cohesive offensive identity. No recurring concept the team leans on when momentum slips. No foundational play structure that stabilizes the unit when pressure rises. This lack of identity is a leadership failure, not simply an execution problem.

Offensive players have shown effort, but effort is not enough when the system itself is unstable.

Situational Football: A Growing Weakness

Perhaps nowhere is Carroll’s responsibility more glaring than in the Raiders’ repeated failures in situational football. The team struggles in the red zone, struggles on third down, struggles closing halves, and struggles protecting leads or maintaining poise when trailing.

These are coaching issues.