Las Vegas Raiders can and will make the playoffs in 2021

3 Reasons the Las Vegas Raiders will make the playoffs in 2021

Reason #1: The offense has officially gotten back on track

The Raiders offense has had, in spirit with the theme of the team’s season, quite the up-and-down year. Derek Carr and the rest of the offense got off to a blazing start, as they averaged 30 points per game and Carr threw for over 350 yards in each contest.

After the hot start, though, the offense took a step backward. Las Vegas put up just 14 points in a week four loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and, after the Jon Gruden emails surfaced, a measly nine points against former Raiders’ star Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears.

Following the departure of Gruden, however, the Raiders’ offense rediscovered their groove, scoring 67 combined points in two games. Carr and company were rolling.

Then, the tragic Henry Ruggs III incident occurred and the Raiders’ lost their best wide receiver and top (and only) deep threat. In the wake of the release of Ruggs, Carr and the Raiders’ offense looked lost. There was nobody to take the top off of the defense, and opposing defenses were playing like they knew it. In three straight losses after losing Ruggs, the Raiders failed to tally more than 20 points despite multiple turnovers forced by the defense.

Thankfully, Las Vegas was able to sign DeSean Jackson after he became available to become the deep threat that they were missing. This past week, the signing finally paid off, and the Raiders’ offense looks to finally be back on track.

If Carr can keep it up and look closer to weeks 1-3 and 6-7 than weeks 4-5 and 8-10, the Raiders will be in great shape in the playoff race.