History says Las Vegas Raiders will not make playoffs during first season in new city
Sin City welcomes the Raiders for the 2020 NFL season, but don't expect postseason football for the Silver and Black.
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Will the Las Vegas Raiders make the postseason in their first season in a new city? Fairly recent history says no, and William Hill oddsmakers aren't too confident, either, as the Silver and Black are +260 on the moneyline odds to reach the playoffs for the second time since 2003 and -330 to miss out.
The Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore ahead of the 1996 NFL season, and those Ravens finished 4-12 and obviously missed the playoffs. The Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee for the 1997 season and the Titans finished 8-8 and out of the postseason.
The Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995 and those Rams were 7-9. The Rams moved back to L.A. in 2016 and finished 4-12. The Chargers moved up the California coast from San Diego to L.A. in 2017 and just barely missed out on the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
The Raiders moved from Los Angeles back to Oakland in 1995 – yep, missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Sensing a trend? The St. Louis Cardinals went to Phoenix in 1988 and wouldn't play in the postseason until 1998. Eleven franchises have had a location change in NFL history, but we won't go through them all.
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William Hill gives Las Vegas an Over-Under win total of 7.5, with both options at -110. It will be interesting to see how much of a home-field advantage the team has at Allegiant Stadium if fans are allowed. No question that visiting Sin City to watch a game will be a vacation plan of many opposing NFL teams' fans.
Jon Gruden's club opens that stadium in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. The Raiders go to Carolina in Week 1 and are early 1.5-point favorites. They may not be favored again until Week 10 at home vs. Denver.
On the bright side, the Raiders don't face a team in the final six weeks that finished last year with a winning record: Week 12 at Falcons, Week 13 at Jets, Week 14 vs. Colts, Week 15 vs. Chargers, Week 16 vs. Dolphins, and Week 17 at Broncos. Trips to New Jersey and Denver surely will be cold-weather games, and Raiders QB Derek Carr has lost 10 straight overall when the temperature was below 50 degrees at kickoff.
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