Raiders owner: McDaniels 'doing a fantastic job' amid 2-7 start

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis backed head coach Josh McDaniels on Monday following a disappointing home loss to the Indianapolis Colts that dropped the Raiders to 2-7 this season.

"As far as Josh goes, I have no issues," Davis said, according to Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I'm getting to know him a lot better. When you sign someone to a contract, don't you expect him to fulfill the contract?"

Davis added, "I like Josh. I think he's doing a fantastic job. That's why I hired him. We did an exhaustive search and found the person we believe is going to bring the Raiders to greatness."

The Raiders have now lost three straight. They were shut out against the New Orleans Saints in Week 8 and then blew a 17-point lead in a defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars the following week. In Week 10, Las Vegas lost 25-20 to Indianapolis in Jeff Saturday's debut as Indy's interim head coach. Saturday had never coached above the high school level entering Sunday.

The Raiders' ownership has given McDaniels assurances that he'll return to coach the team in 2023, a source told Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

"Life isn't static. It's fluid," Davis said. "You want to win at the end of the year and be the one holding the trophy. Obviously, we're not there yet. I know it's frustrating for the fan base. I feel for them. I'm a fan as well."

McDaniels joined the Raiders this season on a four-year contract after serving as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator in the previous 10 seasons. It's the second head coaching stint for the 46-year-old, who became head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 and was fired midway through his second season with the team.

McDaniels is 13-24 as a head coach in the NFL. The Raiders, who made the playoffs last year and entered the 2022 campaign with high expectations after adding receiver Davante Adams and pass-rusher Chandler Jones, rank fourth in the AFC West.