Yeah. I know. Same as last year.
Hopefully, I won’t be writing a mea culpa so soon this time.
It was shortly before the 2025 season for the Las Vegas Raiders commenced when I predicted a 7-10 final record for the team.
For a side with two playoff appearances in 23 years.
For a franchise that had won four games the previous season.
I thought it to be a reasonable goal.
Um, it wasn’t.
Raiders are better
The NFL schedule was released on Thursday — a virtual holiday for football fans across the nation — and I’m picturing a similar prediction for this season when it comes to where the Raiders will land following 17 games.
Yeah. I know. Same as last year.
I’ll take 7-10. There is no doubt the Raiders are better in key spots. There are still some significant questions to be answered across both lines of scrimmage, but general manager John Spytek hit far more than he missed in free agency and the draft.
Paper doesn’t mean much, but this is a more complete team on it in May.
The position most are interested in, like always, is quarterback. As in, when during the season will we first witness rookie and No. 1 overall draft choice Fernando Mendoza under center?
(When he learns how to play under center? I digress).
It hasn’t been some big secret. Spytek and new coach Klint Kubiak have both made their opinions known on throwing a first-year quarterback to the fire when opening a season.
They’re not big fans of it.
This is why the Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins in the offseason. The ultimate bridge. The one Mendoza can learn from and grow while not feeling the pressure of having to immediately produce.
And if that’s how things fall during training camp, all the better.
But we will eventually see Mendoza play this coming season. He will eventually be the guy. When?
Your guess is as good as any. So let’s make one based on the schedule we now know.
This isn’t an easy call.
The Raiders begin at home against the Miami Dolphins, about as winnable an opener as you can imagine. This is a test. If the Raiders are to be taken seriously to start, nothing but victory will stand here.
Things then switch to consecutive road games against an AFC West rival in the Los Angeles Chargers and at the New Orleans Saints. Those are followed by the Kansas City Chiefs at home and then at Super Bowl runner-up New England.
Could the Raiders be 2-3 after five games?
Could they even steal one against a favored opponent and turn it into 3-2?
And would that be enough for Cousins, if he has started the season, to keep his job?
Look. There is a feeling that if the Raiders somehow get off to a solid start but Cousins isn’t playing all that well, then Mendoza would replace him regardless of the record. I don’t see it.
This is a franchise that has lost for so long, any semblance of success would probably have things remain the status quo. I don’t think they would mess with changing much if the scoreboard is falling in their direction more times than not.
The tough part: New England is followed by home games against the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams, the latter with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Time for Fernandomania
But this would be 6-7 games into a season where I still don’t believe the Raiders will contend in the division. This seems like the place. Especially inside Allegiant Stadium, where it would be better for Mendoza to receive his maiden voyage as an NFL starter.
Of course, given my prediction for the team’s record last season, the rookie is probably going to light it up in camp, win the job and start from the outset. I just don’t think it goes down that way.
I can’t believe they signed Cousins without thinking he would be the perfect placement until Mendoza is ready. And yet who really knows when that is until he plays?
Everyone wants to see it. To learn how good he can really be.
For now, know that Cousins and Mendoza seem to be getting along quite nicely. They were featured in the team’s schedule release video, a skit essentially promoting peace and harmony between the two.
Everything is roses and butterflies for the team’s quarterbacks right now!
We’ll see if that continues.
No matter which way it falls, think 7-10.
Yeah. I know. Same as last year.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
