After the Las Vegas Raiders began the season with a 3-0 record, they began a mostly tough, season defining eight-game stretch.
It has not started well. The Raiders have gone 0-3 during the first portion of this period and are now 3-3.
However, they have a big opportunity in the next two games when the host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and play at the New York Jets in Week 8. Both teams are 2-4.
The Raiders have feasted on poor competition this season. The three teams they have beaten are a combined
2-15. The three teams the Raiders lost to are 14-3.
So, if Las Vegas can continue its trend of beating teams with poor records they can regain a cushion at 5-3. That would be important as they play at the San Francisco 49ers (6-0), host the Seattle Seahawks (3-3) and play at the Denver Broncos (4-2) to end this eight-game stretch.
When this stretch started, I stated even if the Raiders went just 3-5 in the eight games, their 3-0 start created a cushion that would allow them to enter the stretch run at 6-5. That would likely put them squarely in the playoff mix doing into the final six games of the season.
Because the Rams are battered and are not as good as expected, this gives Las Vegas a chance to make up for this three-game listing steak. The Jets’ game was always looked at an opportunity during this stretch.
So, if the Raiders can swept the next two weeks, they will be looking pretty good doing into the final three games of this stretch. They can’t afford to blow this opportunity.
