The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to be much improved in 2025 under new head coach Pete Carroll. However, one NFL analyst doesn’t believe the team will rise in the AFC West rankings.
Despite all the offseason changes, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton predicts the Raiders will still finish last in the AFC West for the second straight year.
“Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders went 0-6 in the AFC West. They should be more competitive within the division this year, but they are still a step behind their playoff-caliber rivals. The Raiders could win seven or eight games, yet still finish last in the AFC West,” Moton wrote.
The AFC West is one of the deepest divisions in football, as the division boasted three playoff teams in 2024, and that could happen once again in 2025.
The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos are all formidable challenges to the new-look Raiders, who fired head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco after a disappointing 2024 campaign and replaced them with Carroll and John Spytek.
With the addition of Geno Smith at quarterback and Carroll leading the charge, Las Vegas should exceed its 2024 win total of four this season. However, given how competitive the division is, it wouldn’t be shocking if they finish last in the AFC West once again.
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