NFL Preseason Week 2 - The Las Vegas Raiders reached the playoffs last season, and quite frankly, we're still trying to figure out how they pulled that off. One answer: They protected their questionable secondary with one of the most conservative defensive schemes the NFL has seen in a decade. With massive turnover on the roster and the coaching staff, however, they're almost certain to play more aggressively in 2022.
The Raiders used exactly four pass-rushers on 87% of opposing dropbacks in 2021, while blitzing with five pass-rushers or more only 10% of time. In our game charting data which goes back to 2005, only the 2005 Colts rushed four more often than last year's Raiders, and only the 2005 and 2008 Colts blitzed less often.