Last Updated on August 20, 2026 11:58 am by Allen
Team Overview
The Raiders are rebuilding again after a 3-14 finish in 2025 that included a 10-game losing streak and cost Pete Carroll his job after just one season. Las Vegas hired former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who helped lead Seattle to a Super Bowl LX appearance, as its new head coach, and used the No. 1 overall pick on Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, though veteran Kirk Cousins won the Week 1 starting job after signing a five-year, $172 million deal in free agency.
With general manager John Spytek overhauling the roster around Kubiak, Las Vegas enters 2026 as the clear last-place favorite in the AFC West, hoping for real progress in year one of a fresh rebuild.
Offensive Line Analysis
Las Vegas made the biggest free-agent splash on the offensive line in the league, signing center Tyler Linderbaum away from Baltimore to a three-year, $81 million deal, the richest contract for a center in franchise history. Linderbaum joins left tackle Kolton Miller to anchor a retooled group tasked with fixing a line that allowed a league-worst 64 sacks in 2025 and giving second-year running back Ashton Jeanty room to work.
Defensive Line Analysis
Star edge rusher Maxx Crosby returns after a bizarre offseason saga in which he was nearly traded to Baltimore for two first-round picks before the Ravens backed out over concerns about his surgically repaired knee. Crosby pairs with free-agent addition Kwity Paye up front, while linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, reunited from their days as Georgia teammates, give the front seven a completely different look than a year ago.
2026 NFL Season
Week 1
Dolphins at Raiders | Sunday, September 13 | 4:25 PM ET | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas opens as a home favorite, priced at -180 on the moneyline against Miami’s +150, with the Raiders favored by 3 and the total set at 41.5 points. Both teams enter with brand-new coaching staffs, but Las Vegas has the more settled quarterback situation with Kirk Cousins under center over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Two rebuilding franchises open the season together, and the edge here comes down to Kubiak’s experienced coaching staff against an equally new-look Dolphins operation.
Odds to Win Division and Super Bowl
Odds to Win AFC West: +2000
Odds to Win Super Bowl: +15000
Predictions
Overall Record: The Raiders are projected to finish around 5-12, roughly in line with a 5.5 win total.
Playoff Chances: Among the longest odds in the conference to make the postseason
Super Bowl Chances: Not a realistic factor in 2026
Las Vegas has meaningfully upgraded its roster and coaching staff, but a full defensive overhaul and a rookie quarterback waiting in the wings mean patience is still the name of the game. Expect steady progress under Kubiak, with the Raiders positioning themselves for a real step forward once Mendoza is ready to take over.
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