Can the Las Vegas Raiders surprise the NFL this season? These two things need to happen

Not many NFL analysts are giving the Las Vegas Raiders even a puncher’s chance this season.

That is understandable after the Raiders finished the 2022 NFL season at 6-11. A year after making the playoffs for the first time since 2016, with a 10-7 record, the experts expected a lot more.

Bleacher Report had the Raiders going 10-7; CBS Sports said 8-9. FanSided had the Raiders going 12-5 and NFL Network’s Adam Rank agreed.

This season? No love anywhere, as experts see the Raiders finishing at the bottom of the AFC West. Predictions for the Raiders in 2023 range from 4-13 to 5-12, maybe 7-10.

Even The Bee predicted 6-11 in May.

Maybe that is how Raider Nation likes it. No one is talking about the Raiders being playoff contenders, pivoting instead to the team’s NFL draft positioning.

The only place to go is up heading into the Raiders’ season opener Sept. 10 against the Denver Broncos. Kickoff is 1:25 p.m. PDT.

But after watching the Raiders’ preseason games, there also is reason for hope, especially with NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs back in the fold.

The Raiders do have plenty of talent to surprise a lot of naysayers out there, but the season likely hinges on two things: the health of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and whether the defense can make stops and create turnovers.

Jimmy G is coming off a foot injury and wound up having surgery in March. He’s back to full health and participated in the Raiders’ training camp and even saw some action in the preseason. The Raiders’ improved offensive line needs to protect him.

Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, meanwhile, put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season and finished with a team-leading 12.5 sacks. But he’ll need help from the interior line and defensive end Chandler Jones.

The Raiders’ defensive backfield seems to be better by adding safety Marcus Epps and cornerback Marcus Peters. It reportedly showed its potential during training camp, with the defensive backs getting after the ball.

That needs to continue in the regular season because the defense has been a problem.

It has been that way for years, so it’s understandable why many experts feel the way they do about the Raiders.

The Raiders can surprise them all this season ... IF Jimmy G stays healthy and Crosby gets the help from his teammates.