Many teams have had their ups and downs throughout their NFL histories. Some of them are currently struggling as they have not won the Super Bowl for decades. That’s the situation with the Las Vegas Raiders, who last became champions in 1983 when they defeated the Washington Redskins.
Back then, they were known as the Los Angeles Raiders before relocating to Oakland in 1994 and eventually moving to Las Vegas in 2020.
However, they have shown solid progress throughout the past two seasons, which will inevitably pay off at some point in time. We will now take a deeper look into their strengths, which should be used wisely in order to bring the Super Bowl to Las Vegas.
Recent Stability and Good Overall Consistency
After going on a 13-year streak without a positive W/L ratio, the Raiders managed to reach the playoffs in 2016 following a fantastic 12-4 season. Despite losing their momentum in 2017 and 2018, the team bounced back and went on a solid, consistent streak in the last three years. Yet, according to Bovada’s football odds, they had a tough start to the 2022 NFL season, which erased their chances of making anything special.
The Raiders found a way to keep most of their drafted players, including Derek Carr, Maxx Crosby, Kolton Miller, and Hunter Renfrow. Moreover, they made a risky move by trading their 2022 first-round pick and second-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for the 2020 NFL receiving touchdown leader, Davante Adams. The 29-year-old wide receiver became the highest-paid athlete at his position at the time of the signing.
Adams was a First-Team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021 and appeared in five consecutive Pro Bowls for the Packers between 2017 and 2021. His move to the Raiders reunited him with Darek Carr, as they both played for Fresno State in 2012 and 2013.
Adams has a decent overall postseason record with the Packers, as he has already appeared 11 times in the playoffs. This can certainly help the Raiders in their pursuit of their first Super Bowl since 1984, thus breaking one of the longest droughts in NFL history.
Derek Carr: The Experienced Quarterback Who Can Change the Route for the Raiders
Derek Carr turned into one of the most recognizable figures in the NFL, and the 31-year-old quarterback is currently in his ninth season in the league. Having won three Pro Bowls (from 2015–2017), the talented player quickly showcased his versatile throws, immense composure, and fantastic vision on the pitch.
Despite going trophyless throughout his career, Carr has already managed to write his name in big letters in Raiders’ history. He set several new records for the team, as he is currently sitting on 216 career touchdown passes.
Derek Carr made the playoffs just once, in 2021, when the Raiders finished in second place in the AFC West with 10 wins and seven losses. However, their efforts were cut short following a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card game.
Moreover, in 2022, Derek Carr signed a three-year contract with the Raiders, which included a no-trade clause. This will certainly give them enough chances to chase glorious moments in the near future. However, the Raiders will need to act quickly in order to make the most of his remaining prime years.
The Raiders Looking to Repeat the Success of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Aces
The city of Las Vegas has become quite influential in the sports industry as they have successfully signed contracts with some teams across the WNBA, NHL, and other sports. Founded in 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights have achieved immaculate success by qualifying for the Stanley Cup in their maiden season in the NHL. Unfortunately, they didn’t get past Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
On the other hand, the Las Vegas Aces have been around since 1997, but they only managed to win their first WNBA Championship in 2022 when they defeated the Connecticut Sun in four games.
The Raiders are yet to make their move since officially relocating to Sin City in 2020. The team enjoyed a decent performance in their first season in Las Vegas but failed to qualify for the playoffs. In 2021, the Raiders held a 10-7 record, thus reaching the Wild Card Playoffs, which they lost to the Super Bowl runners-up, the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Raiders might have missed out on becoming the first team to win a major pro sports title for Las Vegas, but they are certainly far from giving up the “fight” with the Aces. However, they still have a shot to become the first men’s pro team to bring a trophy to Sin City.
*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal