2025 NFL Preview: Las Vegas Raiders Season Outlook, Schedule & Prediction
2025 LAS VEGAS RAIDERS SEASON PREVIEW
The 2024 season fell apart for the Las Vegas Raiders. The highlight came early in Week 2 with a road victory against the Baltimore Ravens. After a 2-2 start, the Raiders quarterback position was a disaster and they would go onto lose 10 consecutive games. It was a four-win season in Vegas but the front office made moves to avoid this fate once again.
OFFENSE
There have been plenty of changes within the organization from last season.
Enter Pete Carroll as the new head coach. The Raiders brought in an all-time great to take over the role and calm things down after the mess of the last few years. Las Vegas went from Jon Gruden to Rich Bisaccia, who many thought would earn the job. Instead, Las Vegas went to Josh McDaniels and he was gone in less than two years. After missing out on Bisaccia, the Raiders decided to hang onto Antonio Pierce and this proved to be the wrong decision.
Now, it is Carroll’s job and finally a good decision by the front office.
Along with a new head coach, the Raiders made a trade for Geno Smith to take over as quarterback. He quickly signed a two-year, $75 million extension to remain with the team. The Raiders used their first-round pick on Ashton Jeanty and all of a sudden, there is a sense of calmness around the team for once.
What the Raiders do not have is a loaded wide receiver room in Jakobi Meyers and Jack Bech. But tight end Brock Bowers returns as one of the best at the position in the league. Bowers set the rookie record for receptions and is only going to get better.
Las Vegas will need better performance from the offensive line. What has the chance to be great is the left side. Kolton Miller continued to shine at tackle while Jordan Meredith was a bit of a surprise at guard. Caleb Rogers is a rookie with plenty of potential while second-year Jackson Powers-Johnson will take over at center.
DEFENSE
The front seven will have to generate more pressure.
The injury bug hit the Raiders hard and this impacted sack numbers and was the reason the team fell to 25th in the league in points allowed.
Maxx Crosby will have to stay healthy for the defense to compete in any capacity. He missed five games last season while playing hurt in many others. Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, who missed the season with a knee injury, are an attack duo. Despite the loss of Christian Wilkins, the front should be strong once again if healthy.
The pass rush will help the secondary and that is much, much needed. This is a group that was not the best in 2024 and has not improved. The Raiders signed Jeremy Chinn in free agency but this is not an upgrade to Tre’von Moehrig. Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Moa leave a lot to be desired.
The Raiders lost their best corner in Nate Hobbs and top linebacker in Robert Spillane. Both left in free agency and left major holes. In the middle, the Raiders will feature Devin White and Germaine Pratt with Elandon Roberts in the mix as well.
The defense in Las Vegas has to be better by default if it is a healthy unit. It begins with Crosby because of how big an impact he makes when he is on the field.
SCHEDULE
Week 1: at New England Patriots
Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Monday Night)
Week 3: at Washington Commanders
Week 4: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 6: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 7: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 8: BYE WEEK
Week 9: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10: at Denver Broncos (Thursday Night)
Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night)
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 13: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 15: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 16: at Houston Texans
Week 17: vs. New York Giants
Week 18: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Record Prediction: 7-10