Gridiron Prediction’s 2021 Las Vegas Raiders Preview

(Photo Credit – Harry How/Getty Images)

Key Players Returning:

QB Derek Carr, RB Josh Jacobs, WR/PR Hunter Renfrow, WR Henry Ruggs, TE Darren Waller, OG Richie Incognito, OG Denzelle Good, OT Kolton Miller, DE Maxx Crosby, DE Clelin Ferrell, DE Carl Nassib, DT Johnathan Hankins, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, LB Cory Littleton, LB Nicholas Morrow, CB Nevin Lawson, CB Trayvon Mullen, SS Johnathan Abram, PK Daniel Carlson, and PT A.J. Cole.

Key Players Departing:

WR Nelson Agholor (Patriots), OC Rodney Hudson (Cardinals), OT Trent Brown (Patriots), DT Maurice Hurst (49ers), NB Lamarcus Joyner (Jets), and FS Erik Harris (Falcons).

Key Players Added:

RB Kenyan Drake (Cardinals), WR Willie Snead (Ravens), OC Nick Martin (Texans), DT Soloman Thomas (49ers), NT Quinton Jefferson (Bills), LB Yannick Ngakoue (Ravens), LB Denzel Perryman (Panthers), and CB Casey Hayward (Chargers).

Draft Picks:

Round 1: 
Pick 017 – OT Alex Leatherwood (Alabama)
Round 2:  Pick 043 – FS Trevon Moehrig (TCU)
Round 3:  Pick 079 – LB Malcolm Koonce (Buffalo)
Round 3:  Pick 080 – LB Divine Deablo (Virginia Tech)
Round 4:  Pick 143 – SS Tyree Gillespie (Missouri)
Round 5:  Pick 167 – CB Nate Hobbs (Illinois)
Round 7:  Pick 230 – OC Jimmy Morrissey (Pittsburgh)

2020 Results:

W01  @ Panthers  W  34-30
W02  SAINTS  W  34-24
W03  @ Patriots  L  20-36
W04  BILLS  L  23-30
W05  @ Chiefs  W  40-32
W07  BUCCANEERS  L  20-45
W08  @ Browns  W  16-6
W09  @ Chargers  W  31-26
W10  BRONCOS  W  37-12
W11  CHIEFS  L  31-35
W12  @ Falcons  L  6-43
W13  @ Jets  W  31-28
W14  COLTS  L  27-44
W15  CHARGERS  L | OT  27-30
W16  DOLPHINS  L  25-26
W17  @ Broncos  W  32-31

Team Info:

2020 Overall:  8-8 (2nd in AFC West)

Home:  2-6
Away:  6-2
West:  4-2
AFC:  6-6
NFC:  2-2

Head Coach:  Jon Gruden

Las Vegas:  59-53
Career:  121-114
Playoffs:  5-4

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Derek Carr (348-517, 4103 yards, 67.3%, 7.9 avg., 27 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: 
Josh Jacobs (273 car., 1065 yards, 3.9 avg., 12 TD)
Wide Receivers: 
Darren Waller (107 rec., 1196 yards, 11.2 avg., 9 TD)
Yards After Catch: 
Darren Waller (583)
TD’s Scored: 
Josh Jacobs (12)
Sacks: 
Maxx Crosby (7)
Tackles: 
Johnathan Abram (86)
Interceptions: 
Johnathan Abroam/Trayvon Mullen (2)
Pass Deflections: 
Trayvon Mullen (14)
Tackles For Loss: 
Nicholas Morrow (9)
Forced Fumbles: 
Clelin Ferrell/Nevin Lawson (2)
Kick Returns: 
Jalen Richard (10 ret., 240 yards, 24.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
Henry Renfrow (23 ret., 265 yards, 11.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: 
Daniel Carlson (33-35 fg/fga., 94%, 45-47 xp-xpa., 144 pts.)
Punting: 
A.J. Cole (44 punts, 1939 yards, 44.1 avg., 20 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB:  4  Derek Carr
RB:  28  Josh Jacobs
WR:  11  Henry Ruggs III
WR:  89  Bryan Edwards
WR:  13  Hunter Renfrow
TE:  83  Darren Waller
LT:  77  Kolton Miller
LG:  64  Richie Incognito
OC:  68  Andre James
RG:  71  Denzelle Good
RT:  70  Alex Leatherwood  |R|
KR:  23  Kenyan Drake
PK:  2  Daniel Carlson

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  98  Maxx Crosby
NT:  90  Johnathan Hankins
DT:  97  Quinton Jefferson
DE:  91  Yannick Ngakoue
LB:  52  Denzel Perryman
LB:  44  Nick Kwiatkoski
LB:  42  Cory Littleton
CB:  27  Trayvon Mullen
CB:  20  Damon Arnette
FS:  25  Trevon Moehrig  |R|
SS:  24  Johnathan Abram
PR:  13  Hunter Renfrow
PT:  6  A.J. Cole III

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  B
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  A
Kickers:  A
Punters:  A

Schedule:

09/13  
RAVENS  |  Las Vegas trails the series 3-9.  The Raiders lost (17-34) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last series win (28-27) was in 2016.

09/19 
@ Steelers  |  Las Vegas leads the series 16-13.  The Raiders won (24-21) the last meeting between teams in 2018, and their last series loss (35-38) was in 2015.

09/26  DOLPHINS  |  Las Vegas trails the series 20-19-1.  The Raiders are 1-5 since 2011, and their last series win (27-24) was in 2017.

10/04  @ Chargers  |  Las Vegas leads the series 63-46-2.  The Raiders are 9-11 since 2011, and their last series road loss (10-26) was in 2018.

10/10  BEARS  |  Las Vegas leads the series 8-7.  The Raiders won (24-21) the last meeting between teams in 2019.

10/17  at Broncos  |  Las Vegas leads the series 60-50-1.  The Raiders are 8-12 since 2011, and their last series road loss (15-16) was in 2019.

10/24  EAGLES  |  Las Vegas trails the series 6-7.  The Raiders lost (10-19) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

11/07  @ Giants  |  Las Vegas leads the series 8-5.  The Raiders won (24-17) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

11/14  CHIEFS  |  Las Vegas trails the series 50-60-2.  The Raiders are 6-14 since 2011, and their last series home win (31-30) was in 2017.

11/21  BENGALS  |  Las Vegas leads the series 21-11.  The Raiders won (17-10) the last meeting between teams in 2019, and their last series loss (16-30) was in 2018.

11/25  @ Cowboys  |  The series is tied 6-6.  The Raiders lost (17-20) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

12/05  FOOTBALL TEAM  |  Las Vegas leads the series 8-6.  The Raiders lost (10-27) the last meeting between teams in 2017.

12/12  @ Chiefs  |  The Raiders last series road loss (9-40) was in 2019.

12/19  @ Browns  |  Las Vegas leads the series 16-10.  The Raiders are 4-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-23) was in 2014.

12/26  BRONCOS  |  The Raiders last series home loss (10-16) was in 2015.

01/02  @ Colts  |  Las Vegas leads the series 10-9.  The Raiders lost (27-44) last season’s meeting between teams, and their last series win (31-24) was in 2019.

01/09  CHARGERS  |  The Raiders last series home win (26-24) was in 2019.

Predictions:

11-6 (3rd in AFC West – Eliminated in Wild Card by Browns)

Series Histories:  Histories are from the inception of the first Super Bowl season through present day. Meetings prior to 1966 are not included.  Playoff wins are included in the year the season took place.  For example, if a team won a wildcard game in January of 2020, the game will be listed under the 2019 season.