Las Vegas Raiders improved, but not expected to improve in 2022?
By Brad Weiss
Despite the Raiders made several significant moves on each side of the ball, some media experts expect them to actually be worse in 2022.
It has been an exciting offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders, who will be looking to get back to the playoffs for the second straight season in 2022. They filled numerous holes on their roster, including the WR1 spot, where Davante Adams will be a major upgrade at the position group.
Also, the Silver and Black added Chandler Jones, a former All-Pro edge rusher who should thrive in Patrick Graham’s 4-3 defense. They brought in a talented cornerback in Rock Ya-Sin, had a solid 2022 NFL Draft, and for the most part, the roster is in a lot better shape than it was a year ago.
Despite all of this, most media outlets have the Raiders falling outside of the playoffs this season, taking a step backward. When looking at the talent they brought in, and the players coming back, the Raiders are improved as a group, so why would they not improve in terms of their record?
Sure, the AFC West improved as well, with Russell Wilson joining the Denver Broncos, and the Los Angeles Chargers getting better on both sides of the ball, but this is a Raiders team that won ten games last season, and that was despite all of the issues off the field. New head coach Josh McDaniels has a lot more talent to work with than Jon Gruden did in 2021, and they also return a top-10 quarterback in Derek Carr.
Raiders should make a return trip to the playoffs
When all is said and done, if they can stay healthy, I believe that the Raiders will prove the media experts wrong, and make a return trip to the playoffs. They are a franchise that has fallen on hard times the last 20 years, making the playoffs only twice, but this is a new group and one that can change the narrative in a big way next season.
Carr and Adams are best friends, and that should do wonders for No. 4, possibly leading to another MVP-caliber season. The defense should be much better, and if they can figure it out up front along the offensive line, the offense is going to be one of the more explosive units in the NFL.
Nobody expected Las Vegas to make the playoffs last season, but that is exactly what they did, reeling off four victories to close the regular season, including one against division rival Los Angeles in Week 18. Many feel Los Angeles will be a team to beat in the AFC next season, but Las Vegas is primed for a return trip to the postseason.