Ryan McFadden
PETE CARROLL KNEW the playing cards he was dealt from the second he signed on to teach the Las Vegas Raiders after a 12 months away from soccer.
Within the AFC West, the star energy among the many head coaches rivals what's seen on the sector. Carroll, Sean Payton (Denver Broncos), Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers) and Andy Reid (Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) have all gained on the highest stage. They've mixed for 741 wins (52 within the postseason), 20 convention championship recreation appearances, 9 Tremendous Bowl appearances and 5 Tremendous Bowl wins — three by Reid.
Carroll and Harbaugh are the one ones to have coached in a Tremendous Bowl and nationwide title recreation because the BCS/School Soccer Playoff started in 1998.
“Is not that one thing?” Carroll stated. “If you are going to be any good, you have to beat the most effective groups. You must beat them, and so if this division is loaded with that, then that is what is going on to make us what we're. … I've received to get my act collectively.”
Carroll, 74, has a résumé that stacks up with the remainder of his counterparts. He has 183 wins and gained extra playoff video games (10) from 2010 to 2019 with the Seattle Seahawks than the Raiders have gained (9) since 1983.
However Carroll and Las Vegas sit at 2-6 going into Thursday evening's matchup towards Payton and the Broncos on the street (Prime Video, 8:15 p.m. ET). And the hole between the Raiders and the remainder of the groups within the division could not be any wider. Las Vegas is in final place, and the Chiefs (5-4) are in third place behind the Broncos (7-2) and Chargers (6-3).
Despite the fact that Carroll is on the surface wanting in, the competitors stage among the many coaches has lived as much as the billing.
“I've a number of respect for all three coaches and all three quarterbacks. And I imply, the place else would you reasonably be? You bought an important division,” Raiders basic supervisor John Spytek stated.
The prime-time showdown between the Broncos and the Raiders will even mark the seventh time Carroll has coached towards Payton. The previous Saints coach is 4-3 towards Carroll. However two of Payton's losses to Carroll got here within the postseason.
Carroll has the utmost respect for Payton. He stated Payton's groups are a “well-schooled group” and notices legendary coach Invoice Parcells' affect within the 61-year-old's teaching. Payton labored underneath Parcells as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys (2003-2005).
“You consider all of the years of [New Orleans Saints quarterback] Drew Brees, you consider him as a passing man, however they weren't once you performed towards them,” Carroll stated. “They at all times had an actual good conscience about working the soccer. He is received a extremely good combine and makes use of his personnel in distinctive ways in which match their model and their make-up.
“There's nothing about his recreation that is not on level.”
For working again J.Ok. Dobbins, Payton's observe document for profitable was one of many causes he signed with Denver within the offseason. Dobbins has had the chance to play for Payton and Harbaugh over the previous two seasons and seen a similarity amongst them and different greats.
“You look again, take a look at my coaches, City Meyer [at Ohio State], [Ravens coach] John Harbaugh, Jim and now Coach Payton, I am not afraid to get coached arduous and people sorts of coaches are going to teach you arduous,” Dobbins stated. “It is clear expectations are excessive and that you'll get to them.”
THIS SEASON MARKS the third time in league historical past wherein a division had a minimum of three coaches with a earlier Tremendous Bowl victory, per ESPN Analysis.
This AFC West group of 4 coaches with a minimum of one Tremendous Bowl look is tied for essentially the most in a single division since 1999. In a five-team NFC West, Dan Reeves (Atlanta Falcons), George Seifert (Carolina Panthers), Dick Vermeil (St. Louis Rams) and Mike Ditka (New Orleans Saints) all had made the Tremendous Bowl of their respective careers. The one coach in that division with out a Tremendous Bowl look that season was Steve Mariucci (San Francisco).
“I've stated, however I am now the youngest [coach in the division], so thanks, Pete,” Payton, 61, stated. “Look, we have had so many good video games and battles when [Carroll] was in Seattle. I feel now undoubtedly, you realize your division opponent goes to be extraordinarily effectively coached.
“That's simply the proof of what they've performed of their careers with all three of these guys. You are not going to get a down day from any individual; all people goes to be able to problem the whole lot you do.”
Carroll, Payton and Harbaugh grew to become coaches within the AFC West previously three seasons with shared hopes to dethrone Reid and the Chiefs. Kansas Metropolis has gained three Tremendous Bowls and 9 straight division titles underneath Reid.
Reid took over the Chiefs in 2013 after they went 2-14 underneath former coach Romeo Crennel. Kansas Metropolis went 11-5 in Reid's first season and hasn't had a dropping document since. The franchise has made 5 Tremendous Bowl appearances since 2019, together with final season, when the Chiefs misplaced to the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
Reid's 28 playoff wins are the second most all-time behind Invoice Belichick.
“All of us get knocked round some in the course of the strategy of it, however to maintain, I feel it is [nine] years in a row they've gained the division, I imply, that is outstanding, unimaginable consistency,” Carroll stated. “They have been doing it for the longest time, and it is sustained and it is past reproach. You possibly can't even problem something that he is performed. He is performed nice.”
A POWER SHIFT may very effectively occur this season. Denver has gained six straight video games and is tied with the Colts and Patriots for the NFL's greatest document. The Chargers have gained three of their previous 4 video games.
Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Justin Herbert (Chargers) and Bo Nix (Broncos) are enjoying at a excessive stage, every rating inside the high 10 within the league in passing yards. Herbert is second in landing passes (18). Nix and Mahomes are tied for third with 17.
The Raiders hoped that bringing in Carroll — their fifth head coach since 2021 — would a minimum of give them a good struggle after they went 4-13 (0-6 within the AFC West) underneath former coach Antonio Pierce. Carroll is the one coach in NFL historical past to guide a number of franchises to a playoff win in his first season with a group. He did so in 1997 with the Patriots and 2010 with the Seahawks.
The moment turnaround that Carroll anticipated going into the season hasn't materialized for Las Vegas. The Raiders have misplaced six of their previous seven video games, and are on the verge of ending with a dropping document for the seventh time in 10 seasons. They've misplaced eight straight video games to AFC West opponents, relationship again to final season. In losses to the Chargers in Week 2 and the Chiefs in Week 7, the Raiders have been outscored 51-9.
They've had accidents to key gamers, most notably tight finish Brock Bowers, who sat out three straight video games due to a knee damage earlier than returning in final week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“My coronary heart goes out to Pete,” Reid stated after Kansas Metropolis defeated Las Vegas 31-0. “Pete and I have been doing this for a very long time. So, once you see him and he will get the group and has accidents, that is crushing for him. … However he is a superb soccer coach.”
The dynamic between Carroll and Geno Smith (1,701 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions) hasn't labored out as easily in comparison with the opposite coach-quarterback pairings within the division.
The Raiders' struggles function a reminder of the rising pains that include a rebuild regardless of a coach's pedigree. Reid and Harbaugh had success of their first season with their respective groups. Harbaugh led the Chargers to an 11-6 document and postseason look in 2024 after the group went 5-12 earlier than he arrived.
However Payton did not have the cleanest begin to his tenure with Denver. In 2023, the Broncos started 1-5, which featured a 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins. They managed to go on a five-game win streak however misplaced 4 of the final six video games and completed with an 8-9 document. Former quarterback Russell Wilson was benched and finally launched.
The next season, Payton drafted Nix and ended the franchise's eight-year playoff drought.
Carroll has embraced the problem of rebuilding and instilling his tradition inside the Raiders' group. However given the powers that be, it is tough for Las Vegas to have the mandatory endurance for a rebuild and struggle off the sense of urgency to stake a declare within the race to the highest of the AFC West.
“Going towards Andy and Sean and Jimmy, it could not be any tougher as a result of these guys are terrific soccer coaches, and they'll have an entire group,” Carroll stated.
ESPN's Jeff Legwold contributed to this report
