Well, I think when evaluating Allen’s performance this year some are glossing over the impact that Injuries and Refs had and are dumping a little too much on his shoulders…especially anything to do with the Raiders.

Some people may be unaware of the sorry state of the Raider franchise and their MO from about 94 on. A really good coach like Gruden who had a good QB in Gannon was able to have short term success. But they ran him out of town because of Al Davis’ ego.

I was living 12 miles from Oakland during the Allen tenure (as well as years before and after) so I heard their news daily and watched their games each week (when not blacked out) and tell you he was not the reason the team struggled. Here were the Raider win totals going backwards from his first 4-12 season:
8
8
5
5
4
2
4
5
4

It was a dysfunctional franchise. Crazy Al Davis was running things his way and that included player/coaching decisions. They had drafted Jamarcus Russell. They had no quality QB in years before he took over. Allen drafted Carr, the only decent player at the position since Rich Gannon. One year after drafting Carr he’s fired and Oakland has a 12 win season the year after that with the QB Allen wanted leading the team. But guess what…they were back to a 6 win season the next year and a 4 win season again the year after that. Point is hardly anyone was going to have success at Oakland during that time.

A lot of users here seem to remember Payton having last year’s Saints team playing much more competitively than this year’s team. They weren’t. In games not started by Winston last year the Saints were 4-6. They got blown out 40 to 29 by Philadelphia and 31 to 6 by Buffalo. It could be a part of the reason Payton cut bait and “retired”…he knew it was going to be tough sledding.

And I’ll say this again for the dozenth time, I don’t point these things out in support of Allen as being the coach next year. I say them because they are facts that should be considered.

I think different coaching decisions may have added 2 to 3 more wins for the team. I also think that fair refereeing would’ve added those same three wins just like players not fumbling or making catches (or Ingram not blowing out a knee one yard short of a first) would have added three wins to the team. We’d then be looking at a 7-6 team very similar as we were to last year about this time.