The 2014 Oakland Raiders are bad. Beginning the year 0-10 is the worst start in Silver and Black franchise history. The team signed Maurice Jones-Drew to an instantly regrettable three-year deal during the offseason, fired former head coach Dennis Allen after four games, and subjected rookie QB Derek Carr to a devastating series of losses during his first season in the NFL. With games left against the Kansas City Chiefs, the St. Louis Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, the Buffalo Bills, and the Denver Broncos, things won't be getting much brighter in the Bay Area either. These teams combine for a 29-21 record overall, making victory anything but certain for the Raiders this season.
Should the Raiders reach that dreaded low point, they'll be in contention for the title of "Worst Team in NFL History," alongside none other than the 2008 Detroit Lions. Detroit, then coached by Rod Marinelli, fired longtime team president Matt Millen after three games, but even when the witch was finally dead, the cowardly Lions still couldn't muster a victory. The remainder of their season was a torturous dirge consisting of fumbles, interceptions, and blown opportunities.
So, through 10 games, who was worse?
For context, here are a few stats to consider while you're thinking about these two teams:
The Lions had a -135 point differential through the first 10 games.
The Raiders have a -113 point differential through the first 10 games.
During the season, Detroit's biggest loss was against the Tennessee Titans, when they fell 47-10.
This year, the Raiders have suffered two 24-point losses, one coming against the Miami Dolphins, the other happening against the Denver Broncos.
Detroit's closest loss was a two-point defeat in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, who would go on to win the NFC North.
Oakland was also most narrowly beaten in Week 6, when the San Diego Chargers beat them 31-28.
At the end of the year, the Lions finished the season having allowed the most points (517), total yards (6,470), and rushing yards (2,754) in the league.
- Currently, the Raiders have netted the fewest total yards (2764), rushing yards (630), and have scored the second-fewest points (152).
Keeping these numbers in mind, let's go in a little deeper and see which team was more pathetic after a 10-game slate. As long as Oakland keeps on losing, we'll keep on updating this post, so be sure to check back tonight after they play (and probably lose) to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But, hey, who knows? Anything can happen.
The last time @KCChiefs faced an 0-10 team: 1984, they lost to the Oilers, giving a first career @NFL win to their QB...Warren Moon. @WMoon1
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) November 20, 2014Game 1
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Atlanta Falcons (34-21)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): New York Jets (19-14)
Summary: Visiting Atlanta, the Lions gave up 21 points in the first quarter before closing the gap in the second with two touchdowns of their own. However, in the second half, the Falcons managed to pull away away once again, giving Matt Ryan a victory in his NFL debut.
In New York, the Raiders fell to the Jets, largely due to an anemic run gam, and an equally bad run defense. Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden combined for just 26 yards on the ground, while New York ran all over the Raiders, picking up 212 yards and touchdown.
Worse loss: Oakland Raiders
Led by Offensive Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan and Coach of the Year Mike Smith, the Falcons would end up finishing 11-5. So, a loss to this squad was nothing to be ashamed of. Meanwhile, the 2014 New York Jets are almost as bad as the 2014 Raiders, especially when they were being quarterbacked by Geno Smith. This game should be regarded as the beginning of the end for the Silver and Black.
Fans be like: "Meh. C'mon, guys. It's Week 1. There's nothing to worry about here."
Game 2
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Green Bay Packers (48-25)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Houston Texans (30-14)
Summary: For their team's first game in Ford Field of the year, Lions fans were treated to a thorough shellacking by their divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers. In Oakland, J.J. Watt caught his first touchdown pass of the season, and Arian Foster ran for 138 yards. There's no place like home, right?
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
The Packers would end up finishing 6-10 on the year, but it could've easily been 4-12 if not for the fact that they got to play Detroit twice. Sure, this year's Texans aren't phenomenal either, but they still have J.J. Watt, who is infinitely more terrifying than anyone on the 2008 Green Bay Packers, including Aaron Rodgers.
Fans be like: "Shoot. No one wants to start the season 0-2. But, hey, not all is lost, right? There are still 14 games left."
Game 3
Detroit Lions opponent (score): San Francisco 49ers (31-13)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): New England Patriots (16-9)
Summary: Led by J.T. O'Sullivan(?), the San Francisco 49ers took down the Lions, despite a six-catch, 140-yard day from Detroit wide receiver Brandon Middleton(?). In New England, the Raiders stayed close with the Patriots by finally managing to keep an opponent from gaining over 100 yards on the ground. The game featured three field goals each from Sebastian Janikowski and Stephen Gostkowski, which is probably the best-case scenario for the Raiders, given that Janikowski is their most viable offensive threat.
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
The 49ers were 0-2 entering their game against the Lions and would end up firing then-head coach Mike Nolan after starting the season 2-5. Detroit had no business getting beaten this badly. The Raiders, on the other hand, were narrowly defeated by a team that is looking like the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Fans be like: *Remembers that their team has been bad for the past decade and will be just as bad this year* "Dammit, not again."
Game 4
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Chicago Bears (34-7)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Miami Dolphins (38-14)
Summary: Kyle "The Neckbeard" Orton threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions, while Ryan Tannehill sliced the Raiders defense for two touchdowns of his own. Once again, Oakland was terrible at defending the run, giving up 157 yards on the ground. Does anyone else sense a trend emerging here?
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
Both teams were embarrassed by good-but-not-great teams. The Bears would finish 9-7 on the year, and the Dolphins are currently sitting at 6-4. But giving up 300+ yard to Kyle Orton is more humiliating than the beatdown the Raiders received. During the 2008 season, Orton threw for over 250 yards just two other times, and never reached the 300 yards mark after doing it in Detroit.
Fans be like: "This happens every year. How could I let myself believe in this team again?"
Game 5
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Minnesota Vikings (12-10)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): San Diego Chargers (31-28)
Summary: Amazingly, the Oakland Raiders held a lead in this game, up 28-24 with six minutes left, before allowing Chargers running back Branden Oliver to score the decisive touchdown at the two-minute mark.
Despite an early hiccup (more on that later), the Lions led for most of their game against the Vikings but were beaten on a last-second field goal by Ryan Longwell, sealing yet another defeat for Detroit.
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
The Lions finally played a close game, and it happened to come against the team that would eventually take the NFC North crown. The Raiders also played the Chargers close, but San Diego is still looking up to the Broncos and the Chiefs in the AFC West. Here, the decisive point in Oakland's favor is the bonehead mistake Detroit made in the first quarter, when Lions QB Dan Orlovsky ran out of his own end zone to give Minnesota a safety. Those two points ended up being the difference in their match-up.
Fans be like: "Seriously, every single year. Am I really this dumb? AM I REALLY THIS STUPID."
Game 6
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Houston Texans (28-21)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Arizona Cardinals (24-13)
Summary: After taking a 21-3 lead in the second quarter, the Houston Texans never looked back in their game against the Lions. Though, Detroit was able to bring it close after a 96-yard touchdown pass from Dan Orlovsky to Calvin Johnson. Related: How the fuck is Dan Orlovsky still quarterbacking for the Lions at this point? HE RAN OUT OF HIS OWN END ZONE IN THE LAST GAME.
As for Oakland, well, let's put it this way: the Arizona Cardinals have only lost one game this season, and you can be sure that it wasn't against the team that's currently starting Derek Carr.
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
Nobody is beating the Arizona Cardinals right now. Not even the 2014 Detroit Lions (who are 1029312039130491283502x better than the 2008 Detroit Lions). The 2008 Houston Texans were decidedly meh.
Fans be like: "I HATE EVERYTHING. FIRE EVERYONE IN THIS ORGANIZATION NOW."
Game 7
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Washington Redskins (25-17)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Cleveland Browns (23-13)
Summary: Though Detroit's Rudi Johnson struck first during the Lions' October 26 game against the Redskins, Washington would rally back in the second half, scoring 19 unanswered points en route to victory.
In Cleveland, the Raiders lost by 10 points in a game that wasn't even as close as the score would suggest. A garbage-time TD from Derek Carr to Andre Holmes brought the Raiders so close to respectability, yet so far.
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
The Lions lost to the Jim Zorn-led Washington Redskins, who were starting Jason Campbell at quarterback. Does anything else need to be said? A loss to the Dawg Pound is usually shameful, but the Browns have been surprisingly competent this season.
Fans be like: *Sighs* "My madness is exhausting. A deep feeling of depression is sinking in; it weighs heavier than the moon."
Game 8
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Chicago Bears (27-23)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Seattle Seahawks (30-24)
Summary: Going up 23-13 in the second quarter, the Lions had one of their largest leads of the season in their second meeting with the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, good things just aren't meant to last.
Against Seattle, Oakland's offseason acquisition of Maurice Jones-Drew continued to look terribly ill-advised. The former Pro Bowler was given two carries for negative two yards, earning approximately $0 of the $7.5 million contract he signed.
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
Even with the post-Super Bowl hangover, the Seattle Seahawks are still the defending Super Bowl champs. Oakland has nothing to be ashamed about here. Detroit, on the other hand, lost to a team starting Kyle Orton.
Fans be like: "This is it. This is the end."
Game 9
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Jacksonville Jaguars (38-14)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): Denver Broncos (41-17)
Summary: Looking to replace rookie QB Drew Stanton, Detroit dragged Daunte Culpepper's decaying corpse out of a trunk, dressed him in a uniform, and thrust him under center. Guess what happened?
In Mile High Stadium, Peyton Manning and the Broncos played host to the 0-8 Raiders. Guess what happened?
Worse loss: Detroit Lions
The Silver and Black got blown out by the offensive juggernaut that it is Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos. DETROIT LOST TO A JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TEAM THAT FINISHED 5-11 ON THE YEAR AND STARTED DAVID GARRARD AT QB. THIS IS IRREDEEMABLE.
Fans be like: "Fuck it. This team isn't worth it. I'll just quietly accept my tortured fate. This can't last forever."
Game 10
Detroit Lions opponent (score): Carolina Panthers (31-22)
Oakland Raiders opponent (score): San Diego Chargers (13-6)
Summary: The Lions fell to a strong Panthers team led by the double-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. Inexplicably, Daunte Culpepper played again.
In San Diego, a tense divisional battle came down to a single score, but Oakland's ineffectual offense couldn't bring home a victory, wasting an uncharacteristically stout performance from the team's defense.
Worse loss: Oakland Raiders
The Panthers made the playoffs and finished with a 12-4 record, which already makes them a better team than the 2014 Chargers. Detroit gets the pass here, but, at 0-10, is that really anything to be proud of?
Fans be like: "Wait, what do you mean there are still six games left in the season?"
Verdict: Through 10 games, the Oakland Raiders are a better team than the 2008 Detroit Lions.
