The Las Vegas Raiders started the 2023 NFL draft with a real coup, getting edge rusher Tyree Wilson from Texas Tech with the seventh overall pick. He’s gotten some comparisons to Chandler Jones, which makes sense, given that he could become Jones’ replacement. He also might motivate Jones to post a throwback season, and he should also help the pass rush explode on the other side of the formation from Maxx Crosby. They added tight end Michael Mayer out of Notre Dame in the second round, and he is an upgrade over the tight ends the Raiders had on the roster, as he can add to the run blocking and catch passes over the middle from new signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo. Let’s take a look at their opponents for the 2023 season as we approach the time to start making decisions about sports betting on NFL futures props.
NFL Betting News: 2023 Opponent Analysis – Las Vegas Raiders
Home Opponents: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, L.A. Chargers, N.Y. Jets, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, N.Y. Giants
Road Opponents: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, L.A. Chargers, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts
Let’s break down the divisional games first. The Raiders have made a practice out of stealing at least one game from the Kansas City Chiefs each year, but they don’t have gunslinger Derek Carr anymore. Can Jimmy G lead the offense past the Chiefs? Based on how he guided the 49ers’ offense last year, I think he can, and his reunion with Josh McDaniels, who was his offensive coordinator in New England, should produce positive results. Denver is still a mystery after Russell Wilson’s 2022 struggles, but new head coach Sean Payton should be able to make some headway. The Chargers were a couple of late turnovers away from sweeping the Chiefs and winning the division last year, and Justin Herbert picked up another season of experience and confidence.
The Raiders also face the AFC East. The Miami Dolphins still have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the real question is whether Tua Tagovailoa can come back and play at 100 percent. The N.Y. Jets now have Aaron Rodgers (and Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb), so they should be able to move the ball more effectively, and they already had a solid defense. The Buffalo Bills are still elite on both sides of the ball, at least during the regular season. The New England Patriots might have the most holes, though, as they lost some key players in the off-season, including Stephon Gilmore.
The Raiders square off with the NFC North. Green Bay is entering Year 1 of the Jordan Love era, and they haven’t really added any quality at wide receiver over the last two seasons. The Chicago Bears are still working to add talent around quarterback Justin Fields. The Minnesota Vikings are a very streaky team with Kirk Cousins at the helm, but they did add more quality at wide receiver. Detroit had a terrific second half in 2022 but has had a mystifying off-season, including dealing tailback D’Andre Swift to Philadelphia for almost nothing in return.
Based on their finish in the AFC West last year, the Raiders play the Pittsburgh Steelers, the N.Y. Giants and the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers should be more consistent this season as Kenny Pickett enters his first full season as the starting quarterback. The Giants still need to sign Saquon Barkley to an extension to have any chance of mounting a consistent offense once again. The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson as the quarterback of the future, and given that the top option on the depth chart besides him is Gardner Minshew, expect to see him this season.
In the division, I see the Raiders going 2-4, splitting with the Broncos and taking one of four against Kansas City and the Chargers. Against the AFC East, I see the Raiders beating New England but losing to everyone else. Against the NFC North, I see the Raiders losing to Detroit and Minnesota but beating Chicago and Green Bay. I see them losing to the Steelers but beating the Giants and the Colts, with a record of 7-10.
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