When it comes to major sports in the USA, football is still at the head of the pack for many. Although other sports might be close seconds, there is something about football that is lodged in our psyche. Of course, the hard-hitting on-field action and off-field locker room drama also helps explain why so many people follow teams like the Las Vegas Raiders.
Football is a great sport to bet on, and this goes some way to explaining its popularity as well. With so many games to wager on when the season starts and futures markets to look at in the off-season, betting can provide even more fun to follow the Raiders. If you are going to place some bets in the new season, just remember to find 2022’s top NFL promo codes first. This is key because promo codes can give you risk-free bets or deposit bonuses when you sign up with an online sportsbook.
The number of awesome NFL franchises to support also keeps people interested in football, and Las Vegas is a prime example. Life as a Raiders fan is never dull, and there have been lots to reflect on over the last decade, but what have been the biggest highs and lows in the last 10 years?
Derek Carr signs on in 2014
A definite high point over the last decade was the signing of Derek Carr in the 2014 Draft. Carr came into the draft as a hot prospect from Fresno State University and was a rookie that many teams had their eyes on. The Raiders eventually got their man, though, and he has turned out to be a great player for the team. He was a key figure in the 2016 and 2021 playoff runs. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Carr is a firm favorite with Raiders supporters, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in 2022.
2016 Raiders’ playoff run
Although the Raiders might have moved to Las Vegas in 2020 and changed names, their history as a franchise goes back further than that. 2016 was a high point for fans in the last 10 years and something to really enjoy. In 2016, they finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and ended a 14-year playoff drought with a Week 15 win against the Chargers. Although the injury that Carr experienced that season was a negative and the eventual playoff loss to the Texans a disappointment, this season is still a major high point in the last decade.
2018 trades of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper
In terms of low points, the decision to trade both Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper in 2018 still stands out. After all, these were two Pro Bowlers who were popular with fans, key to the team and on the right side of 30. To this day, many Raiders fans disagree with this call and don’t understand why it happened.
This is even more true when you consider that the trades happened in mid-season and within a few months of one another! Although these moves naturally bagged the Raiders lots of draft picks, the jury is still out on whether they were used wisely enough and whether they were worth it.
The 2021 season
Coming right up to date, we have included the whole 2021 season as something of a strange one for Raiders followers. Although the team made the playoffs for the first time since 2016, this was overshadowed by one crisis after another.
Even in the offseason, things had begun to go downhill for the team. In July, President Marc Badain resigned, and then a massive brawl with the LA Rams erupted in an August practice match. Moving into the regular season, coach Jon Gruden was sacked after a string of offensive emails from his past came back to haunt him.
Later in the season, player Henry Ruggs III was caught driving while drunk and was involved in a fatal car crash. Although making it into the post-season was a high point, their eventual loss to the Bengals in the Wild Card round was naturally disappointing. Let’s hope the current CBS Raiders ranking for 2022 means the new season will be more positive overall!
It is not always easy being a Raiders fan and a lot has happened to the franchise over the years. The last decade is no exception and has involved all the usual drama any fan of the team would expect. While it means life is never dull, the rollercoaster ride that follows Las Vegas can sometimes leave you hankering for calmer times.
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*Top Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images
