Nobody Is Talking About Raiders as a Playoff Dark Horse — They Should Be

The Las Vegas Raiders have a huge opportunity to shock the NFL world next season.

Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders are attempting to pull off an accelerated rebuild, akin to the likes of the New England Patriots or Chicago Bears. They're slowly building up their roster and putting the right pieces in place for them to succeed.

Klint Kubiak's track record shows he's the man for the job, but it's yet to be seen how much of a jump their offense will take under his leadership. While it may appear the Raiders need a year or two to get into the playoff race, how can they surprise teams as soon as next season?

Dark Horse Playoff Team

Feb 10, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak speaks at introductory press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The two biggest catalysts for the Raiders' success next season are their offensive consistency and how fast Fernando Mendoza can adapt to the NFL. Defense is going to be important if the Raiders want to make the playoffs, but if Maxx Crosby can stay healthy all season, I have no doubt they'll be good on their own.

Both of those catalysts go hand in hand, but they're also distinctly different. Rookie quarterbacks typically need a year before they can step into their own, but in cases like the Washington Commanders or Houston Texans, a high first-round quarterback can find plenty of success in their first season.

Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (QB11) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images | Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

Mendoza was a precise quarterback with the Indiana Hoosiers, and if that were to translate to the NFL seamlessly, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in Kubiak's scheme. He's capable of making some big throws, although not to the same level as Sam Darnold last year.

They don't have a weapon as explosive as Jaxon Smith-Njigba either, so I don't expect the big-play of the Seattle Seahawks to manifest itself in the Silver and Black. However, if Mendoza's accuracy remains consistent, they do have a better receiver room, which can lead to more trips to the red zone and more chances to score touchdowns.

Dec 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) in the tunnel against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Mendoza's success will also depend on how well the players around him step up. John Spytek and Kubiak spent a lot of money in free agency to shore up their offensive line. If they're able to get the run game going and open up the field for Mendoza, their floor becomes a lot higher.

Ashton Jeanty showed flashes of his excellence last season, but this offseason is the time for him to step up and build chemistry with that offensive line. Jeanty and Mendoza are enough to win them more games, which may be what they need to sneak into the playoffs.