Mark Davis backs Jon Gruden, tries to explain the Mack trade and wants the Raiders to play in Oakland next year

New Coach for the Oakland Raiders, Jon Gruden

Story by The Athletic
Written by Vic Tafur

Mark Davis was never going to blame Jon Gruden nine months after the Raiders owner gave him a 10-year blank check to coach his team. And after declining interview requests from The Athletic for months, Davis told ESPN on Sunday night that he and general manager Reggie McKenzie have “got to look in the mirror and figure out, where the hell did we go wrong in trying to build this thing?”

The Raiders are 1-8 after Sunday’s 20-6 loss to the Chargers and have not scored a touchdown in the last nine quarters. The fans booed often throughout the second half and Davis said that hits him in the heart.

“I feel so bad for the fans because they want to win,” Davis told ESPN. “Everybody in this organization is built around winning. We don’t have the tools right now to do it and it’s nobody’s fault but our own and when it comes down to it, it’s my fault …

“Where this team is right now is my fault. We haven’t been able...