The Raiders have started the season at 2-0 for the second-straight year. However, it’s felt even more impressive this season after beating two playoff teams from a year ago in the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Going into the season, most sportsbooks and oddsmakers believed the Raiders would only win six or seven games. In a highly competitive AFC, that certainly wasn’t going to be enough for the Raiders to make the playoffs.
However, these two early wins have certainly shifted the expectations and probabilities some.
According to FiveThirtyEight, the Raiders currently have a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs this season. The site ranks the Raiders as the No. 12 team in the league and gives them a 3 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
It’s worth noting that win a win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 3, their odds would go up to 70 percent to make the playoffs, depending on the outcomes of a few other games. A 3-0 start is exactly what the Raiders need considering how difficult their schedule gets in November and December.
Obviously, it’s too early to be worried about making the playoffs or not. But it shows just how important the early-season start is for the Raiders. Time will tell if Jon Gruden’s team can finally get over the hump and make the playoffs. But they are off to a great start as they sit at 2-0.
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