Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for a challenging six-game stretch that will test their progress. This stretch begins on Sunday with a game against the Los Angeles Chargers and will continue with opponents including the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams.
Upcoming Challenges
Head coach Clint Kubiak said, "We learn that everyone works under this pressure, and that makes the NFL so exciting. Yes, a tough stretch is ahead, but we try to take it one game at a time." The Raiders look forward to these tough challenges after their 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins. However, some of the results from the first week may not reflect the strength of the Raiders' future opponents.
Team Status Review
Of the six teams on the Raiders' upcoming schedule, four teams lost in their opening games. However, the Chargers have won 11 games each in the past two seasons, and the Saints narrowly avoided a loss to Detroit with a two-point conversion. The Patriots played in the Super Bowl last season, and the Rams also entered the new season as one of the championship contenders.
In Las Vegas, there are hopes for better days ahead. Sportsbooks have predicted a total of 6.5 wins for the Raiders. Kubiak showcased his offensive creativity in the game against the Dolphins, with Kirk Cousins producing three touchdown passes and Ashton Janty gaining 147 yards.
On the defensive side, the Raiders may be better than expected. They had an advantage on the offensive line, sacking Malik Willis five times and limiting Devon Achane, who rushed for 1,350 yards last season, to 36 yards on 11 carries.
The Raiders cannot afford mistakes in their bad quarters in the upcoming weeks, but this team pulls off an unexpected win each season. Las Vegas won last season in New England, in 2024 in Baltimore, and in 2023 in Kansas City.
The Raiders' offensive line, which was considered the weakest in the NFL last season, has improved with the addition of Tyler Linderbaum and Spencer Burford, along with Colton Miller returning from injury. Cousins faced little pressure in this game, and Janty and Mike Washington Jr. combined for 143 yards at an average of 4.8 yards.
Kubiak was dissatisfied with how the game ended, saying, "I think we lost our strength overall. However, we put ourselves in a good position in the first half and need to play football for four quarters."
The Raiders will face their AFC West rivals, the Chargers, on Sunday.
Source: abcnews.com
