Welp, it’s that time again. Gotta say, it felt good not to have to sit through Raiders football. The bye week certainly could do them some good because they needed it.

The Raiders currently sit 2-7 and have the third overall pick in the upcoming draft. So, at least there is a positive there if you’re into that sort of thing.

There will hopefully be new vibes and a new tone set when the Raiders take the field against the Miami Dolphins. The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. THANKFULLY. In the end, the Raiders need to instill confidence and come out flying. Here’s some things to watch for as the Raiders regroup.

It’s Minshew Mania The Rest of the Way

We’re halfway through the year and at this point ride the wave that is Minshew Mania. With Aidan O’Connell still nursing an injury, the decision to roll with Minshew makes sense going forward. Nothing against Desmond Ridder, but Minshew gives the team the best chance to win. Or at least we can hope so.

Minshew is who he is. He isn’t going to light the football field on fire, but he is a competitor and will try his best to make plays. He currently has thrown for 1,501 yards and has six touchdowns to pair with his eight interceptions. The worst part, is he has fumbled five times and lost four of them. So that’s disastrous. But it’s a clean slate and a chance to right the ship.

New Game, New Offense

Under a new offense ran by Scott Turner, there is room for optimism. Under Getsy the Raiders offense was allergic to moving the football. The play calling was atrocious and the execution was not there.

The Raiders need to get back to doing the fundamental things right and get back to executing on all fronts. Through the first nine games, the Raiders run game ranks 31st in run attempts and dead last in rushing yards. In addition, they rank middle of the pack in attempts, but 23rd in passing yards. It’s a dreadful offense and has been painful to watch at times. It’ll be a tough test against the Dolphins defense. They’ve allowed just 1,824 pass yards while also being strong against the run. Sounds like a tough matchup.

If they can get the run game going, it can open up the passing game. Get the play action going and let the ball fly. The Raiders offense has weapons, so it’s time to utilize them.

If you’re having trouble watching, just love and appreciate rookie Brock Bowers. That kid is the real deal.

Come Out Motivated

The Raiders need to come out motivated and with something to prove. The offense needs to find a new gear and a good challenge presents itself.

You have to imagine Maxx Crosby is going to come out flying and the defense will rally around the condor. With the season all but lost at this point, it’s just about building confidence and executing better.