LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
2025 Record - 3-14-0
Head Coach - Klint Kubiak
2025 Offensive Rank - 245 YPG (32nd); Rushing - 77 YPG (32nd), Passing - 168 YPG (28th) SCORING - 14.2 PPG (32nd)
2025 Defensive Rank - 318 YPG (14th); Rushing - 117 YPG (17th), Passing - 201 YPG (14th) SCORING - 25.4 PPG (25th)
Key Player Additions - Fernando Mendoza (QB), Kirk Cousins (QB), Tyler Linderbaum (OL), Alec Ingold (RB), Quay Walker (LB), Spencer Buford (OL), Jalen Nailor (WR)
Key Player Losses - Devin White (LB), Geno Smith (QB), Kenny Pickett (QB), Daniel Carlson (K), Jamal Adams (LB), Stone Forsyth (OL), Dylan Parham (OL), Elandon Roberts (LB)
OFFENSE - The Raiders brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and it looks like he will get the starting job as training camp goes along. Last year with Atlanta, Cousins split time as the quarterback and had 1,721 passing yards with ten touchdowns and five interceptions in ten games. The number one NFL draft pick in 2026 was Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, fresh off a national championship undefeated season that also included the Heisman trophy. Mendoza will be the Raiders starting quarterback at some point. Tight end Brock Bowers missed five games last season after his huge rookie year in 2024, but he still had 64 receptions for 680 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with Bowers in the passing game are wide receivers Tre Tucker (57, 696, five TD), Jalen Nailor (29, 444, four TD with Minnesota) and rookie Malik Benson (Oregon) as well as tight end Michael Mayer. Second year running back Ashton Jeanty (975 yards, 3.7 YPC, five TD and 55 receptions, 346 yards, five TD) will be the featured back again in 2026 and rookie Mike Washington, Jr. (Arkansas) is expected to get his share of the workload as well.
DEFENSE - Defensive End Maxx Crosby returns to man the front line and he had ten sacks last season to lead the Raiders. Tackles Adam Butler, Tonka Hemingway (four sacks) and JJ Pegues are also ready to go for the Silver and Black. The linebackers include Malcolm Koonce (4 1/2 sacks), Kwity Paye and Quay Walker, who comes over from Green Bay, where he had 128 tackles a year ago. The safeties are Jeremy Chinn (114 tackles), Isaiah Pola-Mao (90 tackles and two interceptions) and Treydan Stukes while the cornerbacks are Darien Porter and Eric Stokes. The Raiders intercepted eight passes last year and had 37 sacks while ranking in the middle of the pack in the NFL in total defense.
2026 SEASON OUTLOOK - After a disastrous 3-14 finish in 2025, Pete Carroll is gone and in comes new head coach Klint Kubiak, who was the offensive coordinator for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. With a fresh approach on offense and two new quarterbacks, the Raiders will be looking for more explosion this season after averaging only 14.2 points per game last year, which was dead last in the NFL. Cousins brings experience and Mendoza is definitely the future for the team at quarterback and they will have decent weapons to utilize. The offensive line has to get better as they allowed a league high 64 sacks last season while struggling to give rookie running back Ashton Jeanty running room.
The defense will have Crosby back after a trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through. Whether he remains a Raider all season long is another story, but for now "Mad Maxx" is the anchor of the defense in Las Vegas. The Raiders were a minus-7 in turnovers and must apply better pressure on the opposing quarterbacks and get more interceptions this season. All in all, it will be a year of transition for the team as they get accustomed to a new coaching staff and personnel leading the offense. Playing in the AFC West, with Denver, Kansas City and the L.A. Chargers around, will be a big task again for this team. If they can double the amount of wins this season, consider that a plus as they build for the future.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Miami
Week Two - at L.A. Chargers
Week Three - at New Orleans
Week Four - vs. Kansas City
Week Five - at New England
Week Six - vs. Buffalo
Week Seven - vs. L.A. Rams
Week Eight - at N.Y. Jets
Week Nine - at San Francisco
Week Ten - vs. Seattle
Week Eleven - at Denver
Week Twelve - at Cleveland
Week Thirteen - BYE
Week Fourteen - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Fifteen - vs. Denver
Week Sixteen - vs. Tennessee
Week Seventeen - at Arizona
Week Eighteen - at Kansas City
No comments:
Post a Comment