Currently sitting atop the AFC West after a surprising 2-0 start, the Las Vegas Raiders are trying to take the NFL by storm and make a deep playoff run this season. With Derek Carr firing on all cylinders and Darren Waller and Henry Ruggs III coming up huge for the Raiders through the first two weeks of the season, things finally seem to be going Las Vegas' way.
This could finally be the year head coach Jon Gruden leads the Raiders to a deep playoff run. After two hard-fought victories against a couple of title contenders to start their 2021 campaign, the Raiders have plenty to build on heading into their Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Let's now take a look at three reasons why the Raiders are legitimate playoff contenders after their impressive start to the season.
3. Derek Carr is coming through in the clutch for Vegas
Coming off a highly productive Week 1 performance in which he threw the game-winning touchdown to Zay Jones in overtime against the Ravens, Derek Carr followed that with another strong performance in Week 2 against the Steelers, collecting 382 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Between Waller, Ruggs III, Hunter Renfrow, Kenyan Drake, and Josh Jacobs, the Raiders possess tons of explosive talent on offense. Carr has found a way to effectively utilize all their talent while continuously making big plays each game. Aiming to come away with another big win Sunday against the Dolphins, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see Derek Carr have another 300-yard day while torching the Miami secondary for a few more touchdowns.
2. Darren Waller is playing Pro Bowl football for the Raiders
After posting big numbers in the first two games of the season, Darren Waller has come through for the Raiders in a major way by making timely catches and big gains. His on-field chemistry with Derek Carr couldn't be any better. He has come up with some big blocks for teammates.
Trying to build on his early season success and have a major impact on the Raiders' playoff push this season, Waller will boost Las Vegas if he is able to keep up this high level of production. In Week 3 against the Dolphins, Darren Waller will try to have another big game for the Raiders as they fight to stay atop the AFC West and remain undefeated.
1. Denzel Perryman is leading the charge on defense
With 11 tackles in the books after the first two games of season, Denzel Perryman has started the 2021 NFL season as a man on a mission. Now that the Raiders are hoping to make the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2016, their deep and talented defensive unit will be putting on a show all year long.
Denzel Perryman will lead the charge while continuing to make big stops throughout the season. Sunday against the Dolphins, Perryman will be out for blood and ready to derail the Miami's offense. If the Raiders are to stay competitive and keep up this winning pace, it will vital for Perryman to bring his A-game again.
It is still early in the season, and the Raiders still have a lot to prove, but they are looking healthier and more cohesive than they have in a long time. Gruden's game plan is finally coming together for Las Vegas in its continued quest to win the AFC West and gain homefield advantage in the playoffs.
If anything's certain in this league, it's that a strong start to the regular season must be sustained. When the playoffs are right around the corner, that's exactly when certain teams shift gears and become absolutely unstoppable. For the Raiders, it is still too early to tell, but with two quality wins under their belt and a ton of depth and firepower on both sides of the ball, they've shown they can hold their own against some of the NFL's best teams when they're fully healthy and are fully committed to winning.
With a ton of pressure on Derek Carr and Jon Gruden this season, the Raiders must do all they can to come out of the regular season with a record that's good enough to earn a spot in the playoffs. Every game this season will be of utter importance to Las Vegas. Considering what they've already achieved though, there's no reason this upstart Raiders squad can't reach the elite of the AFC and land a playoff spot this year.
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