The Las Vegas Raiders have a chance to really improve on what they did last year. And last season was an improvement on the year before. Then again, it's not hard to be better than they were in 2022. But, they were a few games away from making the playoffs.
In 2024, they have the potential to make the playoffs, and possibly win some games there, too. Now, no one is really predicting that, as most people think they will continue to be the Raiders of old, but it's definitely not. The coach in place now is going to make sure of that, as Antonio Pierce completely changed the culture and mindset last season.
There is, though, one person who does believe that the Raiders can shock the world, and in fact, have a near-perfect season. The only thing that would make this predicted season more perfect, is if he predicted them to win the Super Bowl.
Rich Eisen, one of the best football analysts in the world, made a prediction that the fan base will surely get behind.
"The Las Vegas Raiders," Maxx Crosby is your defensive player of the year. The condor goes and he just absolutely kicks ass. Antonio Pierce is a coach of the year finalist. And, the autumn wind is a pirate, and the Raiders win the AFC West. My prophecy is two years too late to piss off Chiefs Nation, Chiefs Kingdom.
"Raider Nation watches the Raiders win the AFC West. And this is the ultimate: they win the AFC West, and who's the wildcard team that comes in to play them in the first round? And they exorcise the demons and clear out the stink out of their mind. And they are the ones who officially end the three-peat."
Well then. While that is a somewhat realistic dream scenario, because the actual dream scenario for the Raiders would be a Super Bowl - I'm not sure all of that will happen. Let's go back over this real quick, because it was a lot. Eisen thinks the Raiders will have the Defensive Player of the Year, a Coach of the Year finalist, win the AFC West, and beat the Kansas City Chiefs to win their first playoff game in over 20 years.
I'm not saying it can't happen, but I certainly don't see it happening - at least not every single one of those things. Maxx Crosby and Antonio Pierce can very well win those awards - that is very possible. Winning the AFC West will be the hardest thing because the Chiefs' roster got even better than it was last year.
But, this is what the Raiders do. They defy the odds, and if there is any team who can do it, it's this team. Fans will love Rich Eisen after this take.
