NEW YORK – The Raiders find themselves in a familiar situation, promoting a new coach and claiming a fresh start, with the hope that this time things will be different.
Mark Davis is keenly aware of this pattern.
However, six games into this season, which has so far yielded three wins and two close losses against formidable AFC teams, the owner senses something beyond just another hopeful outset.
He perceives an organization finally united under a shared vision. This includes first-year head coach Klint Kubiak, whom the Raiders see as key to forming a lasting partnership with their top rookie quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.
“I think he’s doing a great job,” Davis remarked about Kubiak during a conversation with The Post at the NFL owners meetings. “He’s building a culture. I have a whole lot of faith in him.”
The positive vibe extends beyond just the coaching staff.
With Davis, minority owner Tom Brady, and general manager John Spytek charting the course and Kubiak executing it, the Raiders finally have an alignment that has often slipped through their fingers in the past.
This alignment ties their coaching choices to roster decisions and to the careful development of Mendoza.
Numerous sources indicate that this unity was lacking last season under Pete Carroll.
Carroll was brought in after Ben Johnson opted to coach in Chicago, which also meant working with Caleb Williams. However, the organization’s intent to build thoughtfully over the long haul conflicted with Carroll’s push for immediate wins.
“Pete was operating out of a completely different playbook,” a league insider said. “And that was clear very early.”
While Davis didn’t specifically point fingers at Carroll when discussing past coaching changes, he acknowledged that initial enthusiasm doesn’t always lead to the ideal collaboration.
“I didn’t feel negatively about anybody, starting out,” Davis noted regarding previous regimes. “It just became very clear that it wasn’t the right fit or optimal situation. I wanted to make the changes quickly enough that it didn’t linger.”
What about now?
“At this point, I’m very confident that we’ve got a long-term situation to work with,” Davis shared.
The Raiders’ 3-3 record is promising but doesn’t warrant any celebratory parades just yet. Their losses against the Chiefs and Bills were by a mere six points combined, hinting that the gap between Las Vegas and these AFC rivals is narrowing.
Bridging that gap remains the task at hand.
Davis feels his main role right now is to let the hired individuals do what they’re meant to do.
“We got who we all believe are the right choices,” he stated.
This also means resisting the urge to turn every challenge into a critique of the overall framework. And it’s essential to remember that beginnings full of promise have come and gone in the past.
Davis often reflects on this reality.
“The least important thing in life is the score at halftime,” he remarked. “You got to finish the job.”
For a franchise that has dedicated a large part of three decades to finding a sustainable path, the most encouraging aspect is finally glimpsing one.
The real challenge now is to remain on that path.
