It’s Time Someone Told The Honest Truth About The Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a hot-button topic here at Vendetta Sports Media. I am here to stir the pot a little bit.
It seems we have two different mindsets here at Vendetta when it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders. On one side (Alex Chick), the Raiders got significantly better this off-season and they can and will vie for a playoff spot this year. Maybe even a divisional crown. Then there is the other side (Scott Logush and the don Trey Daubert) who will hardly ever say a good word about the Raiders. Don’t trust their future. Don’t trust their quarterback Derek Carr. Say that this team doesn’t have a chance and they should blow it up (this is before the Davante Adams trade). So, what is the cold hard truth about this Raiders team? Let me tell you.
*I will preface this by saying that this article is subject to change and that the AFC West is going to be a slaughterhouse this season*
**clears throat**
The Las Vegas Raiders will finish 2nd in the division and in a Wild Card spot.
I can’t see anything else happening but this scenario, injuries aside of course. Let’s start with the offense. Good lord. We should expect a career year from Derek Carr now that his weapons on offense are Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, and DAVANTE ADAMS. Waller is a top 5 TE in the league. Renfroe established himself last year as a bonafide stud. Then you throw in the best receiver in the NFL. This team is going to put up points. Not to mention their new Head Coach Josh McDaniels who will fine-tune this offense into a well-oiled machine. This team finished 6th in the NFL in passing last season, I think that might go up just a little bit.
Yes, the offensive line is a massive question mark. This Kolton Miller at LT really came into his own last year. In 1139 total snaps last year, Miller gave up a mere 4 sacks and only 5 penalty calls on him all year. LT is solidified. Last year, most people clowned the Alex Leatherwood pick, and rightfully so. But was he expected to come into the league and be Quentin Nelson? His play at RT was suspect, but when he was playing Guard, he actually didn’t look too bad. The penalties are a little rough, yes. But he was a rookie last year he’s going to make mistakes. While they did not address this in free agency, want to know an area they did address?
The defense. Which based on last year, wasn’t actually awful. The Las Vegas Raiders finished 14th in the NFL in total yards allowed last season, better than the defending Super Bowl champs Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers. How did they help matters? Landing Chandler Jones in free agency and bringing in 3 CBs, led by Rock Ya-Sin acquired via trade. This Raiders team knew what they needed to help this team contend, and they are making all the right moves.
What I don’t understand about some of the hate this team gets is that this team finished 10-7 last year and made the Wild Card. They proved last season they can make the climb and reach the playoffs. Yes, the AFC West got better this off-season. The Chargers made splashy moves. The Broncos brought in Russell Wilson. Kansas City didn’t get better. I know that for a fact. They got worse. Do you trust the Chargers to close out games late? Does Denver have enough weapons to hang with these high-powered AFC offenses? How much will the Tyreek Hill trade impact this KC offense? These are all questions conventionally not asked when it comes to projecting the Raiders’ future this upcoming year.
One thing I have learned as of late is that there is no sense in debating the NFL during the off-season, especially before the NFL Draft, because everyone else is right and you will always be wrong. So when this comes out, I am sure there will be folks who have something to say about it. I will be keeping all comments to myself about the Las Vegas Raiders until Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. Until then, debate all you want. But if and when this comes to fruition, your silence will be the sweetest thing I hear about it.
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