Graney: We’ll learn a lot more about Raiders come Monday night
Summary
Ed Graney argues that while the Raiders’ Week 1 road win at New England was encouraging, Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers is a much tougher early-season test. The piece highlights Geno Smith’s strong passing debut, the Raiders’ limited running game (and the need for rookie Ashton Jeanty to improve), and the challenge posed by Justin Herbert and a confident Chargers side.
Key Points
- The Raiders beat the Patriots 20-13 in Week 1, with Geno Smith throwing for 362 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
- Los Angeles Chargers are a step up in competition after a 27-21 season-opening win over the Chiefs; Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns.
- Raiders defence impressed in New England, especially in the second half, but Monday will be a sterner test against Herbert’s playmaking.
- The Raiders’ run game was ineffective vs the Patriots — Ashton Jeanty gained 38 yards on 19 carries — and needs to improve for play-action to remain effective.
- Coach Pete Carroll praised the defence’s tackling and effort but wants the offence, particularly the offensive line and running game, to step up.
Content Summary
The article opens by noting that players downplay the MNF label, but for the Raiders this is a meaningful jump in difficulty. Graney contrasts the Patriots win with the Chargers’ dominant display in Brazil and singles out Justin Herbert as a multi-dimensional threat who forces defences to account for both his arm and mobility.
Graney praises the Raiders’ defensive performance in Week 1 — limiting Drake Maye and shutting out the Patriots in the second half — while pointing out offensive warning signs: the inability to establish the run and reliance on Geno Smith’s passing. The piece stresses that if the ground game doesn’t improve, the Raiders’ play-action success could vanish against a stronger opponent.
Context and Relevance
This is an AFC West clash early in the season that helps set a tone for divisional pecking order. For Raiders fans and NFL observers, Monday’s game is useful as an early litmus test: it will reveal whether the Week 1 win was a sign of genuine progress or an opener that masked underlying issues, especially on the run game and offensive-line play.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you follow the Raiders (or the AFC West), this is the preview you want — quick, to the point, and it tells you which matchups to watch on Monday. Graney cuts the fluff: defence looked good, offence needs more grunt, Herbert is a proper handful. Saves you time and tells you what actually matters for the game.
Author’s take
Punchy and practical — Graney highlights the key game-deciders without getting bogged down in hype. If the Raiders handle Herbert and patch up the run game, they’re for real; if not, Week 1 might just be a nice memory.
