The [[2023 NFL season|2023 season]] was the [[Las Vegas Raiders]]' 54th season in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), their 64th overall, their fourth in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], and their second and final under the [[List of Las Vegas Raiders head coaches|head coach]]/[[General manager (American football)|general manager]] tandem of [[Josh McDaniels]] and [[Dave Ziegler]]. On October 31, following a Week 8 loss to the [[2023 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]], the Raiders fired McDaniels and Ziegler.<ref name="McDaniels-Ziegler">{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders fire head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager David Ziegler |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-fire-head-coach-josh-mcdaniels-general-manager-david-ziegler |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=nfl.com}}</ref> The Raiders named linebackers coach [[Antonio Pierce]] interim head coach,<ref>{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders name Antonio Pierce as Interim Head Coach |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-name-antonio-pierce-as-interim-head-coach |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Raiders.com |language=en}}</ref> and assistant general manager [[Champ Kelly]] interim general manager.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders name Champ Kelly as Interim General Manager |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-name-champ-kelly-as-interim-general-manager |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Raiders.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the season, the team named Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach after the team finished the season with a record of 5–4 under Pierce.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raiders hire Antonio Pierce as full-time head coach |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-working-on-deal-to-hire-antonio-pierce-as-full-time-head-coach |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
The [[2023 NFL season|2023 season]] was the [[Las Vegas Raiders]]' 54th season in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), their 64th overall, their fourth in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], and their second and final under the [[List of Las Vegas Raiders head coaches|head coach]]/[[General manager (American football)|general manager]] tandem of [[Josh McDaniels]] and [[Dave Ziegler]]. On October 31, following a Week 8 loss to the [[2023 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]], the Raiders fired McDaniels and Ziegler.<ref name="McDaniels-Ziegler">{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders fire head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager David Ziegler |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-fire-head-coach-josh-mcdaniels-general-manager-david-ziegler |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=nfl.com}}</ref> The Raiders named linebackers coach [[Antonio Pierce]] interim head coach,<ref>{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders name Antonio Pierce as Interim Head Coach |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-name-antonio-pierce-as-interim-head-coach |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Raiders.com |language=en}}</ref> and assistant general manager [[Champ Kelly]] interim general manager.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Raiders name Champ Kelly as Interim General Manager |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-name-champ-kelly-as-interim-general-manager |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Raiders.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the season, the team named Antonio Pierce the full-time head coach after the team finished the season with a record of 5–4 under Pierce.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raiders hire Antonio Pierce as full-time head coach |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-working-on-deal-to-hire-antonio-pierce-as-full-time-head-coach |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
The season was the first since [[2014 Oakland Raiders season|2014]] without longtime quarterback [[Derek Carr]] on the opening day roster, as he was released on February 14.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Derek Carr released by Raiders after nine seasons |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/derek-carr-released-by-raiders-after-nine-seasons |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> The Raiders improved on their 6–11 record from the [[2022 Las Vegas Raiders season|previous season]] following their [[NFL on Christmas Day|Christmas Day]] win over the [[2023 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. However, the Raiders were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive year after a loss to the [[2023 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] the next week. They finished the season 8–9 to finish in second place in the division.
The season was the first since [[2013 Oakland Raiders season|2013]] without longtime quarterback [[Derek Carr]] on the opening day roster, as he was released on February 14.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Derek Carr released by Raiders after nine seasons |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/derek-carr-released-by-raiders-after-nine-seasons |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> The Raiders improved on their 6–11 record from the [[2022 Las Vegas Raiders season|previous season]] following their [[NFL on Christmas Day|Christmas Day]] win over the [[2023 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. However, the Raiders were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive year after a loss to the [[2023 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] the next week. They finished the season 8–9 to finish in second place in the division.
On December 14, 2023, the team set a franchise record for most points scored in a game, defeating the [[Los Angeles Chargers]] 63–21.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four days after losing 3–0, Raiders set franchise scoring record, beat Chargers 63-21|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401547593|website=ESPN.com|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>
On December 14, 2023, the team set a franchise record for most points scored in a game, defeating the [[Los Angeles Chargers]] 63–21.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four days after losing 3–0, Raiders set franchise scoring record, beat Chargers 63-21|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401547593|website=ESPN.com|date=December 15, 2023|access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref>
The season was the first since 2013 without longtime quarterback Derek Carr on the opening day roster, as he was released on February 14.[5] The Raiders improved on their 6–11 record from the previous season following their Christmas Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the Raiders were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive year after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts the next week. They finished the season 8–9 to finish in second place in the division.
On December 14, 2023, the team set a franchise record for most points scored in a game, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 63–21.[6]
On March 10, 2023, complete list of Raiders' draft picks was released.[11]
^The New York Giants traded a third-round selection originally acquired from Kansas City in the Kadarius Toney trade to Las Vegas in exchange for tight end Darren Waller.
^ abLas Vegas traded a sixth-round selection to New England in exchange for quarterback Jarrett Stidham and a seventh round pick.
To commence their 2023 season, as well as the post-Derek Carr era, the Las Vegas Raiders traveled to Empower Field at Mile High to face one of their longtime AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos. It took newly-acquired Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo only one drive and 3 passes to pass a touchdown, as he hit Jakobi Meyers with a 3-yard touchdown pass to put the Raiders up, 7-0. Less than a minute later, Russell Wilson hit Lil'Jordan Humphrey with a 5-yard touchdown pass to cut the Raiders' lead to 7-6, since they couldn't get the extra point.
In the second quarter, Daniel Carlson booted a 24-yard field goal to push the Raiders' lead up to 10–6. However, Vegas trailed for the first time when Russell Wilson hit Courtland Sutton with a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Denver up, 13–10, at the half.
In the third quarter, neither team could score any points; the score stayed 13–10 in favor of the Broncos.
In the fourth quarter, Wil Lutz booted a 24-yard field goal and extended the Broncos' lead to 16–10. However, the Raiders would shove back, with Garoppolo hitting Jakobi Meyers with a 6-yard touchdown pass to reach the final score of 17–16, in favor of Vegas.
With the win, the Raiders started the season 1–0, and were the only AFC West team that won their season opener.
Week 2: at Buffalo Bills
Week 2: Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Aidan O'Connell threw four touchdowns in the Raiders’ largest franchise points output ever in a 63–21 win over the Chargers. The Raiders forced five turnovers and receiver Jakobi Meyers threw a touchdown as the Raiders led 42–0 at the half. The previous high for points scored had been 59 against the Broncos in 2010.[14] Final score 63-21 was a scorigami.[15]
^ abBuffalo finished ahead of Kansas City based on head-to-head victory.
^ abBuffalo finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head sweep.
^ abCleveland finished ahead of Miami based on conference record.
^ abCincinnati finished ahead of Jacksonville based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Indianapolis (see below).
^ abJacksonville finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head sweep.
^ abLas Vegas finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head sweep.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.