Cleveland Browns will meet imploding Las Vegas Raiders

You think the  Cleveland Browns have problems? Wait till you hear about the Las Vegas Raiders laundry list of issues.

The Cleveland Browns will meet the Las Vegas Raiders this Saturday, a team that established new lows in its most recent losing effort versus archrival Kansas City in Week 13. It started prior to the game, when the Raiders, led by star defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, decided to move their pregame gathering from the normal 25-yard line to the 50-yard line so they could dance and stomp on the Chiefs logo on their home turf at Arrowhead Stadium.

You can imagine they felt great as boos showered down upon them from the irate home crowd. The Raiders enjoyed being the bad guys as they proved their toughness and tried to intimidate the Chiefs. Al Davis would have been so proud. Just win baby.

Unfortunately for those overconfident Raiders, on the first play from scrimmage, defensive tackle Jarran Reed tossed running back Josh Jacobs to the ground like a rag doll, causing him to fumble, and cornerback Mike Hughes scooped up the loose ball and took it into the house for a Kansas City touchdown.

You see, Ngakoue and the Raiders only thought they were tough guys. Patrick Mahomes and company took them behind the tool shed and beat them up. Las Vegas had no choice but to take the punishment as Kansas City won by 39 points, 48-9. The tough guys of Vegas had only 44 yards rushing as they fumbled four times and Derek Carr was intercepted once. Carr was sacked four times and took 11 hits on the afternoon.

Mahomes tossed two touchdown passes, and halfback Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for two more.

For the year, the once-proud Raiders have limited the Chiefs to 89 points in two games. Earlier in the season, the experts were touting Derek Carr for MVP of the NFL as he piled up mega-yardage while the Raiders got off to a 3-0 start with Carr averaging nearly 400 yards per game. Suddenly, head coach Jon Gruden had to resign due to homophobic remarks that were discovered while the league was investigating Dan Snyder and the Washington Football Team.

There was also the ultimate horror when one of their players was charged with DUI that resulted in the death of another human being in a fiery car crash. Nothing more needs to be said.

Since Gruden’s departure, the team has gone 1-5, losing by an average score of 32 to 17 in those 16 games. Perhaps the Browns will provide medicine for what ails the Raiders, but if the Browns are winning ugly, the Raiders are losing ugly. It may seem as though Cleveland is the biggest mess in the NFL, but not so. Not nearly so.

On offense it all starts up front, and the Raiders have a stalwart left tackle in Kolton Miller. Elsewhere, they have some minor problems. Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus tweeted that right guard Alex Leatherwood and right tackle and right tackle Brandon Parker are tied for number one in the NFL.

That sounds great until you realize the stat is pressure rates. Leatherwood leads the league in total pressures surrendered (55). Parker adds eight penalties to his contribution to the team. The Raiders line is ranked 29th overall and is trending downward.

Of course, it’s all Derek Carr’s fault. It’s comforting to know that Raiders Nation is just as intent on replacing Carr as the Dawg Pound is on replacing Baker Mayfield. You guys rock.

Las Vegas has the advantage at quarterback, but Cleveland has the advantage everywhere else and deserves to be home field favorites, at least. Wynnbet has them favored by three points with the over/under at 40, meaning the offenses may be in for a long day at the office.

Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett & Co. are looking forward to Saturday’s game. Derek Carr had better prepared to sustain some damage, that’s for sure. Maybe Baker Mayfield can lend him his brace.

So, the Raiders are having a terrible season. It doesn’t mean that they will play so poorly against the Browns. However, if you are worried about the Browns underachieving offense, rest assured that the Raiders are not problem-free, either.

No one is saying Cleveland has this one in the bag, but there is no reason to be unduly pessimistic. The sky has not yet fallen.