Even after struggling for decades, the Raiders franchise is still one of the most accomplished teams in the NFL’s Super Bowl era, pacing the AFC West. But with the Chiefs approaching dynastic status, how much longer until Las Vegas is passed by its longtime rival?
If current trends continue, it won’t be long. But for now, the Raiders are the 6th-most accomplished team since the NFL-AFL merger. That’s according to a yearly ranking compiled by The Athletic’s Bob Sturm.
Sturm awards points for winning the Super Bowl, playing in the Super Bowl and losing, reaching the conference championship game, and making the playoffs. The Raiders have only scored two points on Sturm’s scale in the last decade but sit one spot above the Broncos and three spots above the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
Here’s what Sturm said about the Raiders.
“The Raiders became a real power with wins in Super Bowls 11, 15 and 18. Since then, times have been significantly more difficult, most famously when all-powerful owner Al Davis lost the secret formula for winning. Despite an incredible drought since they last ranked as an NFL power, the Raiders remain just barely outside the top five.”
The Raiders are only three points behind the Packers for the No. 5 spot. But considering how poorly the franchise has performed in general and the slow start to the current regime, Las Vegas has to glance at its rearview mirror.
Kansas City would vault ahead of the Broncos and the Raiders with another Super Bowl win. The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have been awarded 37 points by Sturm in the last decade and are No. 9 on this list.
As for the Broncos, they are just three points behind Las Vegas in this decades-long competition and currently sit at No. 7.
Frankly, it’s amazing the Raiders rank highly on this list after struggling so mightily for decades now. It’s a testament to the domination of the Raiders’ best teams in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.
The Raiders’ current regime, led by coach Josh McDaniels, is tasked with turning the historic franchise around. A playoff appearance would help Las Vegas hold off the Broncos and Chiefs on Sturm’s list. It would also mark a turnaround for McDaniels after a very disappointing 2022 campaign.
Can McDaniels succeed where many have failed and make the Raiders consistently significant again, sustaining the Raiders’ prestige in the process? He and general manager Dave Ziegler have a lot of work to do to make that happen. They can look to the franchise’s past for inspiration — and to learn from abundant mistakes made by past regimes.
