For the previous few years, the Las Vegas Raiders haven’t been an excellent soccer staff. They’ve received simply 18 mixed video games over the past three seasons, the sixth-fewest within the NFL. In addition they received simply 4 final season, ending tied for the fourth-worst document within the NFL (behind three groups that received three video games). Over the long term, the Raiders have been even worse. They have been to the playoffs simply twice since 2002, and solely the decrepit Cleveland Browns have a worse document throughout that span.

However star edge rusher Maxx Crosby sees hope within the Raiders’ state of affairs, impressed by one other staff that not so way back was shedding quite a lot of video games however not too long ago climbed the mountain and received a championship: the NBA’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

“We simply noticed it within the NBA: OKC, only a couple years in the past, was one of many worst groups within the league,” Crosby mentioned, per The Athletic. “However they’d quite a lot of younger guys, they trusted the method, they developed and now they’re the world champions. We’re making an attempt to win. I wish to win so badly. I put every part into it. I need all people else to suppose like that. And that is been my purpose, simply bringing as many guys alongside as I presumably can.”

Crosby’s proper. The Thunder went 22-50 within the COVID-shortened 2021 season, then 24-58 and 2022. They considerably surprisingly confirmed dramatic enchancment in 2023, going 40-42 and shedding within the play-in match. The final two years, they’ve received the highest seed within the Western Convention, going 57-25 in 2024 and 68-14 in 2025. Within the latter season, they’d the very best level differential of all time and received the primary title in OKC historical past, led by the league’s MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and among the finest defenses in current reminiscence.

The Raiders … will not be in the identical place because the Thunder. Not less than not within the one the Thunder have been in coming into the 2024-25 season. Oklahoma Metropolis had simply received 57 video games and misplaced within the second spherical of the playoffs to the eventual Western Convention champions, was armed with a participant who had simply completed second in MVP voting (SGA) and two worthy co-stars with All-Star potential (Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren), plus arguably the deepest roster in the complete league, with gamers like Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and extra able to contributing at a excessive degree not simply within the common season, however in the course of the playoffs. They usually had all that ammo regardless of being one of many youngest groups within the NBA.

After all, it appears unlikely that Crosby was evaluating final season’s Raiders to this season’s Thunder. That will be loopy. Once more, they went simply 4-13 final season. That is very very similar to the 2022 Thunder going 24-58. So, maybe Crosby is merely hoping that his staff can take the form of step ahead that the Thunder took in 2023, the place they stepped into the fringes of the playoff race in a manner that stunned quite a lot of onlookers. 

The Thunder entered that season with an over/underneath of simply 23.5 wins and have been tied for the worst title odds within the NBA. No person anticipated them to be good. The Raiders are coming into this season with an over/underneath of simply 5.5 wins at FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re +310 to make the playoffs and +10000 to win the Tremendous Bowl, odds that rank sixth-worst and seventh-worst, respectively, within the league. No person expects them to be good. 

The distinction right here is that the Raiders haven’t got anybody who’s remotely equal to SGA. Geno Smith is a heck of so much higher at quarterback than what the Raiders had their final 12 months with Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder, however he’s so much nearer to being a league-average quarterback than he’s to being an MVP. Vegas might be hoping that Ashton Jeanty may be that form of participant, however operating backs simply do not drive NFL success in the identical manner that superstars do within the NBA. They’re very depending on staff context, and the Raiders’ staff context is, kindly, not nice. 

They are going to want to tug an inside straight to even be aggressive within the AFC West, not to mention within the convention as a complete. They play in the identical division because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who win the division yearly. They usually play in the identical division because the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, every of which made the playoffs final season. The Raiders have six video games in opposition to these groups, plus 4 in opposition to the NFC East. They do luck out and play the AFC South, however that is chilly consolation for a staff that was very unhealthy final 12 months and has an above-average power of schedule.

Perhaps every part does work out for the Raiders and so they make a push for a wild-card spot. It appears extremely unlikely, however stranger issues have occurred earlier than. It is exhausting proper now, although, to see the trail to them shortly changing into one of many easiest groups within the NFL and the Tremendous Bowl champions. Smith will flip 35 years outdated in October and is probably going getting into the decline part of his profession. If the Raiders do not win massive very quickly, it is extra seemingly that they will be beginning once more than hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. And the thought of them profitable quickly appears fairly outlandish contemplating their state of affairs.