Las Vegas Raiders 2022-2023 Season Preview

Will the Las Vegas Raiders repeat their 2021 success and make the postseason in 2022?

 

The Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2022 NFL season coming off of a season that was filled with turmoil, controversy, and even tragedy.  After losing head coach Jon Gruden to email controversy, and wide receiver Henry Ruggs to tragedy, the team managed to make the postseason before suffering a quick exit at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

Although the Raiders made the playoffs, it was apparent that the team needed to bring in a new head coach and a “WR1”.  The Raiders made a splash by bringing in former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, one of the most sought out candidates of the past several offseasons, to be the head coach.  A little over a month later, the Raiders made an even bigger move, acquiring star wide receiver Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers for their first and second round picks, reuniting quarterback Derek Carr with his former collegiate teammate.

While the Adams trade represented a win-now move for the Raiders, who are entering their third year in Las Vegas, it meant that the team would not be picking until the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.  The Raiders used that third round pick to bolster the offensive line, by taking Dylan Parham out of The University of Memphis.  With an offensive line that struggled in 2021, Parham could have a chance to be an immediate contributor and quickly ascend up the Raiders depth chart.

After going 10-7 in 2021 (7-10 ATS and 0-1 ATS in the postseason), the Raiders will look to ride a revamped roster and coaching staff to a second straight postseason berth.  Although the Raiders have improved a roster that made the playoffs, their odds to make the playoffs currently sit at +190, while their odds to win the AFC West sit at +600.  Their odds of winning the AFC are currently +2000, while their odds of winning the Super Bowl are +4000.  The over/under on the Raiders win total currently sits at 8.5, which could be a steal for a second straight year, after opening at 7.5 in 2021.

 

The AFC is predicted to potentially be tougher than ever, particularly the AFC West, a division that could see any of the four teams make the postseason.  The Raiders schedule will seemingly be tougher than the conference, as, entering the season, they have the seventh-most difficult schedule in the NFL based on 2021 record, as their opponents combined for a .528 winning percentage a year ago.

 

After having nearly identical records at Allegiant Stadium (5-4) and on the road (5-3), it will be crucial for the Raiders to improve at home if they want to make the postseason in a crowded AFC.  They will also need to improve in divisional play and non-conference play after going 3-3 in the AFC West and 2-3 against the NFC a year ago.

 

The team will open up on the road in a divisional game with the Los Angeles Chargers and follow with their home opener in week two against the Arizona Cardinals.  These two early season games should serve as a good test to see if the Raiders can improve at home, in the division, and against the NFC.  The matchup with the Chargers will be particularly important, as the two teams could once again be fighting for a playoff spot, after the Raiders defeated the Chargers in overtime of week 18 to clinch a playoff spot, and, simultaneously, eliminate the Chargers.  This game could be a shootout as both teams figure to have explosive offenses.

 

The Raiders will begin with five tough games, all coming against divisional rivals or playoff teams from a season ago, before they reach their week six bye.  They will close with five straight games against playoff teams from 2021, in a stretch that could decide the outcome of their season.

 

The Raiders offense figures to be one of the best in the National Football League after adding Davante Adams to a cast that already features Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, Josh Jacobs, and Kenyan Drake, as quarterback Derek Carr figures to have the best weapons of his career, and, arguably, the best weapons in the league.

 

After struggling to score touchdowns in the red zone in 2021, McDaniels offense combined with the addition of Adams, which makes it almost impossible to double team Waller, should help fix that issue.  As great as kicker Daniel Carlson for the Raiders, particularly down the stretch as they won their last four games to make the playoffs, the team needs him to spend less time kicking field goals and more time kicking extra points.

 

While it remains to be seen if the defense can hold up, after adding Chandler Jones to a defensive line that already includes Maxx Crosby, and trading Yannick Ngakoue to the Indianapolis Colts for Rock Ya-Sin, they figure to have improved, both, on the edge and in the secondary.

 

Similar to most teams in this crowded AFC, and AFC West, race, health could be the deciding factor regarding the Raiders postseason hopes.  In a conference, and division, where there isn’t a lot of talent separating the teams, health figures to play a bigger role than in previous years.  If the Raiders are unable to stay healthy throughout the season and have their stars end up on the injury report, it will be almost impossible for them to navigate the tall task they face in overcoming their schedule and a very tough AFC.

 

Will the Raiders make the playoffs in 2022?  If they are able to stay healthy and their defense improves, as it appears they have on paper, it will heavily improve the Raiders postseason chances.  Ultimately, the most important factor in determining whether or not the Raiders will make the postseason is their red zone play.

 

The team ranked 29th in TD percentage in the red zone, surrounded at the bottom by teams picking near the top of the draft.  If they can fix this issue, the ceiling for this Raiders team could be very high.  If they continue to struggle in the red zone, something that has been a theme with the Raiders for several seasons, then it could be a long schedule due to the strength of the AFC and the difficulty of the Raiders schedule.

 

Josh McDaniels should be able to fix the red zone issue, as his offense in New England ranked seventh in red zone efficiency despite having far less weapons than he will have at his disposal in Las Vegas.  A simple rise to the middle of the pack could take the Raiders offense from good to elite.

 

While they could finish anywhere from first to last in the AFC West, the Raiders should finish at least second in their division for the third straight year, and look like a team poised to make the postseason as a Wild Card.  Chemistry is on this teams side as Derek Carr has played with all of his top weapons so there shouldn’t be any issues at the start of the year.  Look for the Raiders to improve their record from a year ago by playing to a 11-6 record.

 

At +190 to make the playoffs, the Raiders could be a great bet, particularly when considering the odds of other potential playoff teams.  Picking them to finish with more than 8.5 wins seems like a lock, after the team improved a roster and coaching staff that won 10 games a season ago.