For the second time, Josh McDaniels has left the comfort of Bill Belichick's system to coach an AFC West franchise. He's hoping for better success than he had in Denver more than a decade ago. It helps that the Las Vegas Raiders boast a trio of receiving threats that might be one of the best triumvirates in the league. New acquisition Davante Adams is an elite playmaker and joins slot receiving threat Hunter Renfrow and elite tight end Darren Waller as the only trio in the league to have all caught 100+ receptions in the past two seasons. Derek C arr will have plenty of chances to move the chains'with his old Fresno State teammate, Adams, now in Last Vegas. The Raiders also signed one of the sport's best sack artists, Chandler Jones, away from Arizona.
Las Vegas faces all three of their fellow AFC West opponents within the first five weeks, including the Chargers and Chiefs on the road. The mid-season schedule is against seven consecutive teams who missed the playoffs last season but the last five games are all against teams that made it. There's no doubt that the Raiders have upgraded their roster to the point of being playoff contenders once again, but the AFC West looks to be so improved that a second consecutive postseason appearance is far from a guarantee.
The oddsmakers are bearish on Vegas' chances to win the AFC West at +700, but the best value might be for the team to make the playoffs at +190. While their ceiling might only be a Divisional Round appearance, the odds of a Raiders miss ed postseason appearance simply seem too low at -230. In any case, the over / under of 8.5 wins might be the safest bet for those who like or dislike Las Vegas this season.
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