Oakland Raiders News: Offense Inept in 2012 Season Opener; Carson Palmer and Company Headed for Last Place?

The Oakland Raiders lost to the San Diego Chargers 22-14 in their opener of the 2012 NFL Season.

Oakland had one of the worst offensive performances of Week 1. They scored just one touchdown and it didn't come until there were 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

The Chargers didn't allow the Raiders to advance the ball for most of the contest. They accumulated just 45 rushing yards on 20 carries. Carson Palmer threw for 297 yards, but it took him 46 attempts to do so.

Most of the quarterback's completed passes were for short gains, as he had trouble connecting with his wide receivers. Derek Hagan led the team's wide outs with four catches for 44 yards.

There were signs in the preseason that the Raiders might have some trouble getting the ball in the end zone. Oakland was shut out in their first exhibition game, when they took on Dallas. They scored just three points against Seattle in the final preseason contest.

After a solid start to the 2011 season, the Raiders offense struggled. They averaged 19.8 points per game in the last five weeks.

The acquisition of Palmer in the middle of the year did little to help Oakland score points. He made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006, but hasn't proven that he can still play at that level. Since 2010, the quarterback has thrown 40 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

Darren McFadden is the club's best offensive weapon, but has had trouble putting together a complete season. He's never played more than 13 games in a season. The running back was healthy against the Chargers, but averaged just 2.1 yards per carry.

The Raiders top focus in the offseason was improving its defense. They finished 29th a season ago, by allowing 27.1 points per contest.

If the Raiders offense doesn't improve in the coming weeks, it might not matter how much better their defense has gotten. The Broncos look to be improved with the addition of Peyton Manning, and the Chargers will likely be a force to be reckoned with.

Oakland visits Miami on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.