The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make the playoffs of the 2022-23 NFL season, especially after the addition of All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. Having him on board gives them an edge on offense and establishes their deep ball threat.
The Raiders traded for Davante Adams during the 2022 offseason and gave him a five-year, $141.25 million contract. That deal reunited him with his college teammate and current Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr. They also look for production from running back Josh Jacobs and slot receiver Hunter Renfrow. Darren Waller is also one of the better tight ends in the league.
On defense, the Raiders brought in Chandler Jones this year to improve their pass rush. There’s also Maxx Crosby, who has emerged as their leader. The squad includes linebacker Denzel Perryman, cornerback Nate Hobbs, and safety Johnathan Abram, while Daniel Carlson is one of the steadiest placekickers in the league.
However, it’s difficult to see them hosting a postseason game because of their deficiencies on defense compared to the best, particularly in the secondary, and we’d expect to see NFL odds on the Raiders lengthen should they reach this stage.
While they are a team with a proud tradition, recent history hasn’t been kind to the Las Vegas Raiders. They started the season with a 1-3 record despite a loaded offensive unit. Likewise, their postseason appearance last year was only their second since 2003.
They haven’t won a playoff game since 2002, when they defeated the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship Game.
The Raiders were established in 1960 in Oakland, California, where they played until 1981. They moved to Los Angeles a year later and stayed there until 1994. They went back to Oakland in 1995 and called it home until 2019. The Raiders then moved to their current home base in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2020.
The Raiders have won Super Bowls XI, XV, and XVIII. They also won the 1967 AFL Championship and joined the National Football League during a merger three years later.
The Raiders currently play their home games at Allegiant Stadium, also known as “The Death Star.” It was opened in July 2020 and can accommodate 65,000 people in a full house. Raiders fans can be rabid in terms of language and wardrobe. They flaunt their franchise's silver and black colors in every game, which can be frightening for children and first-time football viewers. Indeed, the team’s notoriety has translated into its fanbase. No wonder players from opposing teams are already aware of the verbal abuse they will get.
The Raiders have rivalries with other teams in the AFC West. It stemmed from their AFL days and has continued to this day. They lead the all-time series against the Los Angeles Chargers, 67-57-2, though the Chargers won their latest meeting. Meanwhile, they also lead the all-time series versus the Denver Broncos, 70-54-2. The Raiders have also won their last five meetings dating back to 2020. Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs have won three straight against the Raiders and lead their all-time series, 70-54-2.
