The Las Vegas Raiders are all too familiar with regime changes. But this year, a new coach and quarterback combination has the potential to make the franchise’s latest alterations a success.
Coach Pete Carroll returns to the coaching ranks after a year out of pro football, and new general manager John Spytek acquired quarterback Geno Smith from Carroll’s previous franchise, the Seahawks, creating a coach and QB tandem that immediately boosts the Raiders’ outlook for 2025.
The fact that the Raiders could acquire a Super Bowl-winning head coach to match wits with Las Vegas’ AFC West rivals is a borderline miracle. The division now features three head coaches who have at least one Lombardi Trophy to their credit. Then, bringing Smith on board to provide the Raiders with a legitimate playmaker in the pocket makes progress on offense an expectation, not a hope.
But will it translate to a winning season?
That remains to be seen. First, the offense must deliver on its new expectations. New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will lean on the incredible talent of second-year tight end Brock Bowers and the team’s first-round pick, running back Ashton Jeanty, and hope his offensive line is effective enough to pave the way to success.
That could take some pressure off a defense that features superstar Maxx Crosby but lost last offseason’s mega acquisition, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, after Wilkins’ unceremonious release from the franchise. Returning defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have his hands full pulling the personnel strings on all three levels, especially up front, as Las Vegas looks for a replacement for Wilkins.
If Raiders fans want to see a noticeable improvement from last season’s 4-13 record, it should be clearly evident in Week 1. Las Vegas will travel across the country to face an old AFL foe, the New England Patriots, who have a new coach of their own in Mike Vrabel. The Patriots also have a new offensive coordinator, former Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, and feature second-year quarterback Drake Maye after his solid debut a season ago.
Let’s look at some key factors that could decide the fate of this Week 1 matchup and potentially set the tone for the Raiders’ 2025 campaign.
Raiders defensive line vs. Patriots offensive line
Las Vegas’ strength lies on the offensive side of the ball, but the defense must show it can contribute. Graham’s crew can’t allow the opponent to run the ball at will, and a solid pass rush will help a suspect group of Raiders cornerbacks. New England features four new starters on their offensive line, including first-round pick, offensive tackle Will Campbell. Las Vegas needs to challenge them rigorously.
Crosby is a demon, but he needs help from his friends. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce must bounce back quickly and resume the progress he made a couple of seasons ago, before suffering a season-ending injury last year. Former top-10 pick, DE Tyree Wilson, is poised to make an impact after developing slowly early on in his career. He looked like a changed player in the preseason, and he’ll have every opportunity to show he can deliver on his draft status.
Defensive tackle Adam Butler is looking for a running mate inside after Wilkins’ departure; Wilson can slide inside and provide support, but other players, such as defensive tackle Jonah Laulu, will have a chance to earn snaps and make a name for themselves. Given that the new offensive line in New England is likely still forming as a unit, this presents a promising opportunity for the Vegas line.
The Raiders’ new-look offense
Last season’s Raiders offense was beyond dreadful. This year, they must lead the way.
Thankfully for Raiders fans, Kelly has some new pieces to play with, led by Smith at quarterback. He’ll look for Bowers often, but it’s the running game—and the offensive line—that will be key in Week 1 and throughout the season.
Jeanty was a beast in college, and his running style reminds some of Carroll’s featured tailback in Seattle, Mr. Beast Mode himself, Marshawn Lynch. Jeanty must provide the offense with a much-needed jolt that can open up the passing game and allow the Raiders’ defense fewer snaps to deal with over 60 minutes.
Look for backup running back Zamir White to make an impact of his own. He reshaped his body in the offseason, and his slimmed-down physique looks to have unlocked a different player. He looked more agile than ever this preseason, and he still has enough strength to power through tackles.
Given the Raiders’ lack of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver, the investment in the running game with the No. 6 pick, and the presence of Bowers and a strong tight end room, the formula for this group appears solidified: run the ball with toughness and multiple tight end sets before opening up the playbook with Smith’s arm. That formula has to be present immediately in New England. But if the offensive line looks as bad as it did last season, the plan could fall apart before our very eyes.
Raiders DC Patrick Graham vs Patriots OC Josh McDaniels
Former disaster of a head coach in Las Vegas, Josh McDaniels, is back in the NFL at a familiar post, OC for the Patriots. He’ll undoubtedly want a taste of revenge after being fired by Las Vegas on Halloween night in 2023.
It’s up to Graham to stop him. These two coaches are intimately aware of each other, having come from the same coaching tree that branches off former Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
McDaniels actually hired Graham in Las Vegas, adding even more intrigue to this coaching matchup. Graham has been excellent for the Raiders, coaching well enough to survive two regime changes and presumably earn the approval of minority owner Tom Brady. If he succeeds in stopping McDaniels, his value will increase significantly.
Coach Pete “Compete” Carroll: Will his energy transfer to wins?
The Raiders didn’t bring a Super Bowl-winning head coach into the fold without expectations. Brady has shown an increasing presence around the club, and it’s clear he expects Carroll to produce a dramatic turnaround on the field.
Does Carroll still have what it takes? Carroll, who will turn 74 on September 15th, is known for his unwavering energy. Can he still sustain it over 60 minutes every week for 17 games?
If he can, his team should follow suit and play with energy and passion, just like Carroll’s championship squads at the collegiate level at USC and in the NFL with the Seahawks. He demands his players compete at the highest level, both in practice and on game day.
He has a tough situation to face in Week 1, as his squad will play on the East Coast and confront a time change that has been a disaster in recent decades for the Silver and Black. It’s Carroll’s job to ensure his roster reaches the full extent of its potential, leveraging its strengths to overcome its weaknesses.
Energy and emotions aside, Carroll’s history as a defensive coordinator and mastermind can potentially shape this season’s fortunes as well. The Raiders’ defense appears suspect, but perhaps Carroll’s vast experience can produce a little magic on that side of the ball.
Raiders vs. Patriots prediction: Las Vegas 24, New England 23
Las Vegas has a tough test in Week 1, simply due to East Coast travel. Its defense looks to be a serious weak link, and new pieces on both sides of the ball will have to coalesce quickly.
But the Patriots have many new pieces to fit together in their own right. Their quarterback lacks experience, as does their offensive line. Their new-look defense, with five new starters and a new defensive coordinator in Terrell Williams, has yet to be tested.
If the Raiders’ run game is simply average, it will unlock Smith and the passing game, led by the magic of Bowers. He’s nearly unguardable, catches everything, and will draw extra attention, helping the Raiders’ subpar group of wide receivers. That will lead to touchdowns instead of field goals and a narrow margin of victory in Carroll’s debut.
Related: Amari Cooper Is Back; Unfinished Business Or Last Chance?
*Top Photo: Getty Images