The Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2024 NFL season with high hopes and a roster poised for competition. Their AFC West division has been locked down by the Kansas City Chiefs in recent years, and this term, the arrowhead outfit heads into the new campaign with history beckoning. They are the reigning back-to-back champions and the short-priced favorites to become the first team in history to complete the elusive three-peat.
However, outside Patrick Mahomes and Co, the Sin City side shouldn’t have too much competition in their division. The Denver Broncos are a shadow of the side that reached two Super Bowls in three years a decade ago, while the Los Angeles Chargers have also struggled for consistency. As such then, the door is open for the Raiders to sneak into the playoffs as one of the wildcards, but to do that, they will need to pick up results both against divisional rivals and the rest of the league, and here are their toughest tests outside of their AFC West obligations.
Baltimore Ravens
Last season, the Baltimore Ravens announced their reemergence as a genuine force within the conference. They finished the regular season as the AFC’s top seed and made it to the conference championships before being downed by the eventual champion Chiefs. On kick-off weekend, the Raiders will make the relatively short journey to Los Angeles’ state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium before making the trip to Maryland on week two for a clash against the Ravens.
Led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, Baltimore’s offense presents a dual-threat capability to exploit weaknesses. The former Louisville Cardinal returned to form last season after a couple of years of performing well below his best. He was the key reason why his side made a deep playoff run, as demonstrated by him winning the league MVP award for the second time in his career. The 27-year-old’s ability to extend plays with his legs and make pinpoint throws under pressure forces defenses to stay disciplined, something the Raiders will certainly have to be if they are to walk away from M&T Bank Stadium with a victory.
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 9 brings a daunting trip to face the Cincinnati Bengals on enemy territory, a team that has rapidly ascended the ranks thanks to the prowess of quarterback Joe Burrow. The former LSU standout has arguably developed into a top-two quarterback alongside the mercurial Mahomes, and he has twice led his side to deep postseason runs.
In 2022, the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl and were +175 underdogs to walk away with the Lombardi. Those odds, especially with live betting at Bovada, were reduced significantly when they led by four points with barely a minute remaining. However, Cooper Kupp managed to snag a last-gasp touchdown to secure the championship.
Burrow and Co. haven’t come as close to the title since, and an untimely injury last term saw them miss the playoffs altogether. This year, he is back, fully fit, and firing on all cylinders. His connection with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins makes the Bengals’ passing attack one of the most dangerous in the NFL. The Raiders’ secondary will be severely tested throughout the contest.
Cleveland Browns
When the Raiders face the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 4, they’ll be up against one of the most balanced teams in the league. The Ohio outfit boasts a potent ground game led by running back Nick Chubb. At the same time, quarterback Deshaun Watson is the highest-paid in the league in terms of guaranteed income, and he will be among those who return to the kind of form that saw him secure that money-spinning contract back in 2022.
Over the last two years, the former Washington Commander has featured just 12 times for the Browns. Laas term, he went down with an injury midway through the campaign, allowing the veteran Joe Flacco to take over and perform heroics. He led Cleveland to the postseason, and now, with Watson back fully fit, they can build on the progress made in 2023.
Defensively, Myles Garrett leads a fearsome pass rush that can disrupt even the most well-oiled offenses, something the Raiders haven’t had so far since their move to Sin Cty. Their offensive line will need to be at its best to keep quarterback Aidan O’Connell – should he remain the first choice – upright and effective. If they can do that, they will undoubtedly be favored to walk away victorious, especially with the clash at Allegantt Stadium.
Miami Dolphins
In Week 11, the Raiders head to Miami to face a Dolphins side that has been transformed in recent years. Their offensive unit is spearheaded by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who topped the league in throwing yards last term. He has a star-studded receiving corps to aim for in the form of the blockbuster duo of Tyreek Hill and Odell Beckham Jr., and they will be giving Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs all they can handle from the outset and throughout.
Defensively, Miami is no slouch either. Adding stars like Jalen Ramsey to an already solid defense means the Raiders must be creative and efficient. New offensive coordinator Luke Getsy must devise schemes that neutralize Miami’s aggressive pass rush while creating opportunities downfield.
