Back at it again with trap games. Which games could be more difficult than they appear this year for the Las Vegas Raiders?
What is a trap game?
Essentially, a trap game is a game that a team might be looking past. This could cause them to lose to a team that they shouldn’t in the first place. Take last year’s game against the Atlanta Falcons for example. The Raiders were headed to New York the following week to avenge a 2019 loss to the New York Jets. They clearly overlooked the pitstop in Atlanta along the way (which I mentioned could be a possibility in last year’s “Trap Games” piece for what it’s worth). So now let’s see what possible trap games the Raiders are up against this year.
Week 7 vs Eagles
Looking at the early part of the season, the Raiders have a chance to get off to a hot start with a somewhat favorable schedule. Heading into Week 7, they could be four and two, with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town before the bye week.
By this point, they could be a bit worn out and maybe even a little overconfident. With a bye looming, they might not be fully up for this one, which could be a problem. On paper, the Raiders are the better team. However, they need to be wary and realize they can’t cruise past this matchup.
Week 11 vs Bengals
Moving into November, the Raiders have a few marquee matchups. Week 10, they play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Week 12, they go to ‘Jerryworld’ for a Thanksgiving clash with the Dallas Cowboys. Sandwiched between the two is a Sunday afternoon snoozer at home against the lowly Cincinnati Bengals.
If the Raiders start packing for Dallas early, they could be in trouble. The Bengals might not be a playoff caliber team this year, but they are not likely to be bottom-feeders again either. The Raiders cannot forget to take care of business here or they could miss out on what should be a gimme.
That should be it for this year…
Looking at the rest of the schedule, there does not appear to be any other true trap games like the ones above. There are a couple others to keep an eye on though. Week 9 at the New York Giants precludes a date with the Chiefs, but the Raiders have bye week to prepare for that. Week 13 against ‘Fitzmagic’ and the Washington Football Team also takes place right before a Chiefs game. But that tilt is at home and comes after 10 days of rest. Other than that, this schedule is manageable.
You May Also Like: Did Raiders Get It Right With Their Offensive Line This Offseason?
*Top Photo: Associated Press/Jeff Chiu