Las Vegas Raiders new home becoming a house of horrors in 2021
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders struggled to win games in front of no fans in 2020, and in 2021, it is becoming a house of horrors for the Silver and Black.
During the 2020 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders opened up their new home, Allegiant Stadium, in front of no fans. Due to COVID-19, the NFL was not allowing fans in the stands, and without their home crowd, they ended up with a 2-6 record.
Going into 2021, many felt that the atmosphere inside Allegiant would be electric, and could be a difference-maker for a franchise looking to turn the corner. In both 2019 and 2020, the Raiders got off to a hot start, and this season, they once again did the same, going into their bye week with a 5-2 record, and fresh off two straight wins.
However, they have disappeared since, looking like one of the worst teams in the AFC, and playing their way out of being legitimate playoff contenders. Sure, there is a lot of season left, and they could surprise people, but they have no home-field advantage and have not shown they can win on the road either.
In their new building, fans or no fans, the Raiders are struggling once again, losing back-to-back games against Kansas City and Cincinnati, and losing them in horrific fashion. They have also lost one earlier in the year to the lowly Chicago Bears, as Allegiant is becoming a house of horrors for them in Year 2.
Raiders could be in serious trouble moving forward
With their third straight loss on Sunday, they are now 5-5 and based on how they are playing, it is hard to see a win on the horizon. They go on the road in Week 12 to take on the Dallas Cowboys on a short week, playing on Thanksgiving Day, and outside of maybe the Washington Football Team in two weeks, they will likely be the underdog in every matchup the rest of the way.
At home, they still play Washington, Denver, and the Los Angeles Chargers, so they are in real danger of finishing at home with a 3-6 record.
Of course, this is the NFL, and teams seem to go on streaks, but the offense looks afraid to push the ball downfield, and despite playing well early on, the defense has not been great. Las Vegas has more than enough talent to have a winning record this season, but it is starting to look like wins are going to be more uncommon moving forward.