The NFL’s reigning MVP is up next on the Las Vegas Raiders’ schedule; is there any hope for Sin City?
A 10-22 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 wasn’t what Silver and Black were looking for, but after the first four quarters of the 2024 regular season, that’s exactly what they found.
Thanks to an inability to move the football, in addition to three turnovers, the Raiders managed to put points on the board on only two of their 13 drives. Add in an offensive line that ranked 29th in pass-block efficiency via Pro Football Focus, and you get an offense that was luckily to score 10 points in the first place.
But Week 1’s ugly loss gives the Raiders an opportunity to show who they really are.
Fresh off a disastrous start, Las Vegas is staring adversity in the eyes as the team prepares to battle a dangerous Ravens squad. The reality is, a standalone loss never tells you about a team, no matter how bad that loss may be. How a team responds to a rough loss, however, tells you everything.
Do the Raiders have what it takes to bounce back from a forgettable loss one week prior? The Raider Ramble staff predicts what’s in store for Sin City heading into their Week 2 contest.
Las Vegas Raiders Week 2 predictions – The Raider Ramble staff
Alex Monfreda (@AlexMonfreda) Ravens, 27-20
Like the Raiders, Baltimore is coming off of a Week 1 loss that wasn’t their best performance – to a lesser extent. This will be a battle between two teams looking to prove they’re better than their last outing showed.
At this point in time, Las Vegas’ head coach Antonio Pierce seems to be rough around the edges when it comes to situational football. Where Pierce shines, however, is motivating his players and getting the team to believe in something special. Those things mean a lot and should keep the Raiders competitive in Week 2–but it just isn’t enough to best Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh, in my opinion, though I don’t believe it to be out of the question.
That said, let’s be clear: So long as the Raiders give Baltimore a run for their money, it will be a positive testament to Sin City’s football team. If the Ravens run away with this game, though, it’s panic time in Las Vegas.
Cam Archer (@CamArcher) Ravens, 31-7
The Raiders will come out fired up in Week 2. The problem is they’ll be facing a true Super Bowl contender, so in the long run it won’t matter. Baltimore should separate by the early third quarter.
Can the Raiders pull off an upset?
It’s uncommon for me to be an optimist, especially after dismal offensive performance from the Raiders in Week 1. However, the team needs to keep getting the ball to Alexander Mattison—Zamir White is already showing he’s not the “Josh Jacobs replacement” fans thought he’d be. As far as Patrick Graham’s defense goes, they need to keep doing what they did in Los Angeles. Sooner or later, Derrick Henry will get his, but if you can minimize the damage, there’s a chance.
Mario Tovar (@TheTovarMario_) Raiders, 17-14
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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