Analyzing Las Vegas Raiders’ Special Teams Performance

The Las Vegas Raiders, with a record of 2-8, have had significant contributions from their special teams, particularly from their kicker Daniel Carlson and punter AJ Cole II. The team’s overall performance on the field has often dictated the workload of these two players.

Daniel Carlson, the Raiders’ placekicker, has managed to convert both of his field goal attempts in a recent game, albeit from shorter distances. Carlson’s field goals reflect the team’s struggles to reach the end zone effectively. His successful attempts were from 27 yards and 22 yards, underscoring the difficulties the Raiders face in completing their drives.

Carlson’s performance places him in the middle of the league standings. He is currently ranked 16th in field goal attempts with 20 and 13th in successful conversions with 18. His field goal accuracy stands at 90%, placing him 12th overall. Meanwhile, NFL leaders in this category are Ka'imi Fairbairn and Chris Boswell, with 31 and 30 attempts, respectively, and Boswell leading in makes with 29.

Punter AJ Cole II also plays a critical role for the Raiders, with one notable third-quarter punt traveling 54 yards from the Raiders’ 40-yard line to Miami‘s 3-yard line. His earlier attempt was negated by a penalty, which provided the Raiders with a crucial first down. Cole ranks 16th in the league with 37 punts, where Corey Bojorquez leads with 55. However, Cole excels in average yards per punt, leading the league at 53.4 yards, followed by Logan Cooke at 51.6 yards.

The Raiders are set to host the Denver Broncos in their next game, a familiar opponent within the AFC West. Carlson has a strong track record against the Broncos, converting 24 out of 27 field goals in 12 games. Similarly, Cole has consistently performed with an average of 49.89 yards per punt in previous matchups against Denver.