Define Success in 2026

[Willmark]

For me success hinges on how closely we track to two previous teams: the 2015 Raiders and the 1958 Green Bay Packers.

Consider.
2015 Raiders A young team on the rise and we were in almost every game. We won some close ones and lost some close ones on the way to a 7-9 record. I note this as it was an improvement from 2014 and 3-13 in 2014. There was a sense of improvement all around; a sense that after a decade of crap our fortunes were improving. While I don't expect history to play out again, the parallels are there.

1958 Packers What the Hell does this have to do with us I hear you ask? A lot. The Packers went 1-10-1 in 1958, it was part of a streak where they had been horrible for something like 10-15 years prior. In 1959 They went 7-5 under a football coach you may have heard of: Vince Lombardi.

Why is this important, is the ghost of Vince going to walk through the door or we get a coach like him? Unless his grandson walks in, no. Its also not the point. There are actually two points to this. 1. The right coach makes all the difference. 2. The 1958 Packers had 12 players who were either All-Pro or would go on to the Hall of Fame. That doesn't mean we have that level of talent on the roster. What I am pointing out we have a LOT more talent than people give us credit for.

This isn't wishful thinking, its rationally pointing out that yes we finished 3-14, but there is a lot more than meets eye to the Raiders roster. Adding the right coach and Mendoza could change things quickly.

Lastly, this is not me buying into the Kool Aide. This is me saying that there is lot to build on here, a lot more than everyone gives us credit for and while I don't expect a one-year turnaround, we could very well see a repeat the season of the two teams I outlined.

How about you, what does success in 2026 look like for you?

[Attyla]

Yeah it's not about Mendoza's readiness. It's can we not destroy him before he gets started?

See Walters, Carr 1 and others. I'm not risking it until protection seems reasonable, it wasn't reasonable at all last year.

1. Brooks was the starter week 1. Walter went in off the bench
2. Carr was not scheduled to start, but Schaub had the wrecked arm and McGloin never had an arm. Carr survived and rebounded.
3. Geno was at fault for a bunch of his sacks and we had a terrible line coach.

We have a ton of money and 10 draft picks. We can fix the line reasonably well this year without much problem. Nobody wants our new QB killed out there so I believe everyone is going to be focused on protection. Oh and for the record, Brooks, Walter and Carr did not have a run game like we should next year. None of them had a Bowers level player. Brooks and Walter worked under that god awful offense we rolled out and Carr, well he was Carr. Geno has no excuse but the others, largely we set them up to fail.

[SkullCrusher]

1. Brooks was the starter week 1. Walter went in off the bench
2. Carr was not scheduled to start, but Schaub had the wrecked arm and McGloin never had an arm. Carr survived and rebounded.
3. Geno was at fault for a bunch of his sacks and we had a terrible line coach.

We have a ton of money and 10 draft picks. We can fix the line reasonably well this year without much problem. Nobody wants our new QB killed out there so I believe everyone is going to be focused on protection. Oh and for the record, Brooks, Walter and Carr did not have a run game like we should next year. None of them had a Bowers level player. Brooks and Walter worked under that god awful offense we rolled out and Carr, well he was Carr. Geno has no excuse but the others, largely we set them up to fail.

But we put him in and killed him before he could ever get going in the NFL. It's not even about week 1 with me, don't do it until we're good. Week 10, week 26...
Carr 1 is his brother, destroyed.
Geno, once you get battered your whole clock is messed up, you feel things sometimes not there, this is what we want to do to other QB's.

I'm not starting him in the regular season unless I'm feeling good about keeping him alive, that's me, I've had this thought for decades, we've seen it. Some still feel ok doing it, I say you have to be smart and protect your long term asset.

[Raidernation1979]

But we put him in and killed him before he could ever get going in the NFL. It's not even about week 1 with me, don't do it until we're good. Week 10, week 26...
Carr 1 is his brother, destroyed.
Geno, once you get battered your whole clock is messed up, you feel things sometimes not there, this is what we want to do to other QB's.

I'm not starting him in the regular season unless I'm feeling good about keeping him alive, that's me, I've had this thought for decades, we've seen it. Some still feel ok doing it, I say you have to be smart and protect your long term asset.

Our line is better than what this year showed. They were better in 24. We drafted 2 rookies who played ok. We can add in free agency and the draft again. This was one of the largest coaching failures I’ve ever seen. To take an average line with average talent and make it look like they were all practice squad players

[Attyla]

But we put him in and killed him before he could ever get going in the NFL. It's not even about week 1 with me, don't do it until we're good. Week 10, week 26...
Carr 1 is his brother, destroyed.
Geno, once you get battered your whole clock is messed up, you feel things sometimes not there, this is what we want to do to other QB's.

I'm not starting him in the regular season unless I'm feeling good about keeping him alive, that's me, I've had this thought for decades, we've seen it. Some still feel ok doing it, I say you have to be smart and protect your long term asset.

Of course you have to be smart. This is not the Old Man Raiders, hell this is not even the Doofus Raiders. This is the Spytek/Brady Raiders. They will work on the line. But you don't bubble wrap Mendoza and hold him back for what, you are suggesting up to almost 2 years? Screw that. He is a football player, get a reasonable amount of upgrade to the line and get him out there week one. No other QB drafted first overall in a long time did not start week one. I am not coddling the guy because I think he is some kind of China doll. He needs reps so we get reasonable upgrades to the line and get him the reps. That is the only way we know what we got.

[SkullCrusher]

Of course you have to be smart. This is not the Old Man Raiders, hell this is not even the Doofus Raiders. This is the Spytek/Brady Raiders. They will work on the line. But you don't bubble wrap Mendoza and hold him back for what, you are suggesting up to almost 2 years? Screw that. He is a football player, get a reasonable amount of upgrade to the line and get him out there week one. No other QB drafted first overall in a long time did not start week one. I am not coddling the guy because I think he is some kind of China doll. He needs reps so we get reasonable upgrades to the line and get him the reps. That is the only way we know what we got.

Week 26 was hyperbole, but yes you have to be smart. Hey he could be Carr 2 smart, I'll just checkdown everything and become the quickest pass out of my hand QB in the league. That's a way to go to, but some say if you do that too long, your balls fall off.

[SkullCrusher]

Our line is better than what this year showed. They were better in 24. We drafted 2 rookies who played ok. We can add in free agency and the draft again. This was one of the largest coaching failures I’ve ever seen. To take an average line with average talent and make it look like they were all practice squad players

Once we know that for sure, proceed with optimal plan.

[raidersince63]

Yeah it's not about Mendoza's readiness. It's can we not destroy him before he gets started?

See Walters, Carr 1 and others. I'm not risking it until protection seems reasonable, it wasn't reasonable at all last year.

^^^This.

[eastcoast128]

6 wins or more
A few close loses
Team playing lights out by the end of the year so we have playoff trajectory in ‘27

Too many holes and a rookie QB to deal with. Anything above this is gravy IMO

[raidersince63]

It's not a question of "can we fix the line"?...instead it's a question of "will we fix the line"?

This time last year we had the majority of posters that were certain we had the right people in place to start the season...how'd that go.

This is still the Raiders and we still have doofus, we still have Spytek, and we still have Brady. Sorry, but I'm not sampling the kool-aide before I see some solid evidence of real change...words are cheap.

[Attyla]

Jesus, we have not even hired a coach or signed one free agent and already people want to bury our QB on the depth chart.

[riseNraid09]

Jesus, we have not even hired a coach or signed one free agent and already people want to bury our QB on the depth chart.

Bro, it makes zero sense. all we have talked about on this forum for years is how the Raiders need to position themselves for a franchise QB, and now that the day has arrived, members on this forum wanna stash him away for later?

f[raiders_icon]ck THAT. we have waited long enough. Mendoza is pro-ready, and he can learn the position on the fly through experience... he's not riding the damn bench watching some inadequate QB play instead.

[raidersince63]

LMAO...this is some funny shit...people losing their cabbage on a message board...again, words are cheap.

We have not hired a coach or signed one free agent and people think we have turned the corner.

[SkullCrusher]

Jesus, we have not even hired a coach or signed one free agent and already people want to bury our QB on the depth chart.

You just witnessed Raider Football 2025 and you're already over it? I'm still deep in therapy.

We get a franchise QB once every 25 years, yeah I want a bed of roses for them.
I want that same feeling Chief fans got when they realized Mahomes was the man to take them the distance after decades of one and done.

[SkullCrusher]

Bro, it makes zero sense. all we have talked about on this forum for years is how the Raiders need to position themselves for a franchise QB, and now that the day has arrived, members on this forum wanna stash him away for later?

fck THAT. we have waited long enough. Mendoza is pro-ready, and he can learn the position on the fly through experience... he's not riding the damn bench watching some inadequate QB play instead.

It makes no sense? We just gave up the most sacks with our oline with an IQ of 12 and our QB that played well before coming here (3 times in a row now) has been obliterated to the point they rather not go back on the field. Our prize RB got smashed as well. Let's not act like we haven't seen what we've seen. Mendoza will play, just be smart because I can totally see what the forum would look like post-stupid.

Most top QB's still flame out and I'm sure "it's the team there on" as a major factor. So do we just repeat history with the bravado, get him out there! Sink or swim? Folks, we're the Jets to. We're the Browns as well until we're not. Or what about Goldilocks in Jacksonville, it's taken him quite a spell to arrive properly.

[SkullCrusher]

Don't get me wrong you seem the most rational person I classify in that category. Bur Jesus, we have not even drafted a player or singed a single coach or player and people want to bury the future in the depth chart. And some want to do so regardless.

fck, the amount of stupid is off the charts stupid. Again, not you but the truly stupid fans.

I doubt anyone wants to bury the #1 QB and if they do, they aren't correct. I'd love to have say Detroit's oline and get him out there without a second thought.