by Wayne Root
Tuesday, May 26, 2026This seems like an obvious prediction as head coach Klint Kubiak has emphasized multiple times this offseason that he prefers if the No. 1 overall pick sat for most, if not the entire 2026 season. I doubt it matters. New rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is probably not the answer anyway. Nor is Kurt Cousins. The Raiders have a long road ahead for themselves this season. Additionally, with a potential rough year ahead for the Silver and Black, the coaching staff might as well give Mendoza an opportunity to get his feet wet before the conclusion of the season.
Many bettors are believing that the Raiders will be a better than average team. Of course, those are Vegas fans and longtime Raiders Nation supporters. Here’s a comment I saw that is yielding that opinion. ‘Las Vegas has set itself up well for the future, quite frankly, and positioned itself for a potentially surprising 2026 campaign.’
If that doesn’t resonate, which is more than likely, an entirely new game plan will emerge. If the Raiders falter and are heading into the trade deadline with a subpar record, Crosby is a likely candidate to be moved. With the 2027 NFL Draft being viewed as one of the best classes in recent memory, they could stockpile additional capital to further expedite the rebuilding process.
The Raiders' new coaching staff and recent acquisitions through free agency and the draft are seen as reasons for potential improvement. The presence of a veteran QB like Kirk Cousins, alongside a rookie QB like Fernando Mendoza, creates uncertainty. Cousins will start the whole year unless he looks like Jimmy g or g menshew. That uncertainty is why I’m investing in this future bet.
The 2026 schedule is perceived as tough, which could limit the team's win potential despite improvements. I see a scenario where the Raiders have the worst record in the NFL. There’s many obvious factors that make that a good observation.
Many sharp Raiders fans believe the Raiders face a tough slate of opponents, suggesting it will be difficult to rack up wins. Some fans resignedly anticipate a season that will lead to a high draft pick, implying a difficult schedule and few wins. Normally, the NFL would love to showcase the number one draft pick. Even with the appeal of the Raiders brand, they are nowhere to be found on TV. The absence of primetime games is largely interpreted as the NFL having low expectations for the Raiders' competitiveness in 2026. Despite the slight, some fans appreciate the lack of primetime games, specifically noting the absence of Thursday nightgames.
The schedule includes a significant amount of travel, while noting the 21k miles is brutal especially with that New England trip being longest one. Another concern I have is over a late bye week, which could impact player fatigue towards the end of the season. With a late bye and one of the most difficult schedules, this season is gonna be especially hard.
Lastly, look at the conference they play in. The AFC West has nothing but great teams. They might go 0-6 just on those games. They might pull off a home win against the Tennessee Titans in week 16. The sports books have set the line at 5.5. I will definitely be betting the under. I can only get to a maximum amount of wins at 3.
Here’s their 2026 schedule.
Week 2: AT Chargers -- 16%
Week 3: AT Saints -- 28%
Week 4: vs Chiefs -- 28%
Week 5: AT Patriots -- 17%
Week 6: vs Bills -- 27%
Week 7: vs Rams -- 10%
Week 8: AT Jets -- 35%
Week 9: AT 49ers -- 18%
Week 10: vs Seahawks -- 20%
Week 11: AT Broncos -- 12%
Week 12: AT Browns -- 40%
Week 14: vs Chargers -- 29%
Week 15: vs Broncos -- 23%
Week 16: vs Titans -- 60%
Week 17: AT Cardinals -- 48%
Week 18: AT Chiefs -- 16%
Many bettors are believing that the Raiders will be a better than average team. Of course, those are Vegas fans and longtime Raiders Nation supporters. Here’s a comment I saw that is yielding that opinion. ‘Las Vegas has set itself up well for the future, quite frankly, and positioned itself for a potentially surprising 2026 campaign.’
If that doesn’t resonate, which is more than likely, an entirely new game plan will emerge. If the Raiders falter and are heading into the trade deadline with a subpar record, Crosby is a likely candidate to be moved. With the 2027 NFL Draft being viewed as one of the best classes in recent memory, they could stockpile additional capital to further expedite the rebuilding process.
The Raiders' new coaching staff and recent acquisitions through free agency and the draft are seen as reasons for potential improvement. The presence of a veteran QB like Kirk Cousins, alongside a rookie QB like Fernando Mendoza, creates uncertainty. Cousins will start the whole year unless he looks like Jimmy g or g menshew. That uncertainty is why I’m investing in this future bet.
The 2026 schedule is perceived as tough, which could limit the team's win potential despite improvements. I see a scenario where the Raiders have the worst record in the NFL. There’s many obvious factors that make that a good observation.
Many sharp Raiders fans believe the Raiders face a tough slate of opponents, suggesting it will be difficult to rack up wins. Some fans resignedly anticipate a season that will lead to a high draft pick, implying a difficult schedule and few wins. Normally, the NFL would love to showcase the number one draft pick. Even with the appeal of the Raiders brand, they are nowhere to be found on TV. The absence of primetime games is largely interpreted as the NFL having low expectations for the Raiders' competitiveness in 2026. Despite the slight, some fans appreciate the lack of primetime games, specifically noting the absence of Thursday nightgames.
The schedule includes a significant amount of travel, while noting the 21k miles is brutal especially with that New England trip being longest one. Another concern I have is over a late bye week, which could impact player fatigue towards the end of the season. With a late bye and one of the most difficult schedules, this season is gonna be especially hard.
Lastly, look at the conference they play in. The AFC West has nothing but great teams. They might go 0-6 just on those games. They might pull off a home win against the Tennessee Titans in week 16. The sports books have set the line at 5.5. I will definitely be betting the under. I can only get to a maximum amount of wins at 3.
Here’s their 2026 schedule.
Week 2: AT Chargers -- 16%
Week 3: AT Saints -- 28%
Week 4: vs Chiefs -- 28%
Week 5: AT Patriots -- 17%
Week 6: vs Bills -- 27%
Week 7: vs Rams -- 10%
Week 8: AT Jets -- 35%
Week 9: AT 49ers -- 18%
Week 10: vs Seahawks -- 20%
Week 11: AT Broncos -- 12%
Week 12: AT Browns -- 40%
Week 14: vs Chargers -- 29%
Week 15: vs Broncos -- 23%
Week 16: vs Titans -- 60%
Week 17: AT Cardinals -- 48%
Week 18: AT Chiefs -- 16%
