After a much-needed bye week, the Las Vegas Raiders have a rare opportunity to change their trajectory. Despite sitting at five losses, a winning streak could quickly shift the outlook of their 2025 season. The Raiders will host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday—a matchup between two teams also coming off a week of rest.
This campaign has been disastrous by nearly every measure. The offense has struggled to find rhythm, the defense has failed to deliver stops, and special teams have been among the league’s worst. Still, there’s a sliver of hope for Raider Nation if Las Vegas can finally flip the script in Week 9.
A health boost could spark a turnaround for the Raiders…
For once, the Raiders are getting healthier instead of more depleted. Star tight end Brock Bowers is set to return after missing several weeks with a knee injury. The All-Pro talent hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards since Week 1, when he opened the season with 103, but his presence alone could ignite an offense in desperate need of playmakers.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell and defensive back Lonnie Johnson Jr. also returned to practice, giving the team added depth. With Geno Smith continuing to struggle with accuracy, O’Connell could have an opportunity to reclaim the starting job, while Johnson adds intensity to a secondary that needs it.
Jakobi Meyers plays on as trade rumors swirl…
Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who missed the team’s last game, is expected to play Sunday despite ongoing trade speculation. Once considered one of the league’s most reliable hands, Meyers has struggled with drops and has failed to top 50 receiving yards in three straight games.
While one win won’t erase the frustrations of a disappointing start, it would offer something the Raiders—and their fans—haven’t felt in a while: hope. And right now, hope might be the most valuable thing left in Las Vegas.
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*Top Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images