Oakland Raiders Schedule: Predicting The Team's 2015 Wins And Losses

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Oct 12, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fan in the Black Hole section reacts to a play during the first quarter in a game San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

With the release of the Oakland Raiders‘ 2015 schedule last week, the only thing being more hotly debated than who the organization is going to draft, is who the team can beat, and who they’ll be unable to overcome in 2015.

Yes, writers everywhere are looking at the schedule as they strap on their giant turbans and look deep into their crystal balls. Some are busy dissecting every piece of data they can find and then try to extrapolate it to the current schedule to produce their 2015 win-loss predictions. And others simply, you know, pull their predictions straight out of their backsides.

The only thing consistent about most of these prediction pieces is that none of them seem to think Oakland is going to be very good in 2015. Oh sure, most of them think the Raiders will take a step forward this season behind the leadership of HC Jack Del Rio, as well as foundational pieces Derek Carr and Khalil Mack. But overall, most of the writers penning the columns believe that Oakland will still be sub-.500 by season’s end.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson, despite believing Oakland will be better in 2015 than they were last season, thinks that they’ll double their win total to six, and still reside in the AFC West cellar.

“The Raiders have won a total of 11 games in three seasons. They are starting another coaching era, this time with Jack Del Rio, who was head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-11. This schedule is not nearly as difficult as last year’s, the toughest in the NFL. The Raiders have some winnable games and with young foundation players, quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack, the Raiders should double their win total from 2014.”

One of the more optimistic views of the Raiders’ fortunes this season come from Maurice Moton of the Bleacher Report, and it still isn’t entirely sunshine and roses. Moton predicts a continuation of Oakland’s string of non-winning seasons, though he does predict an 8-8 year for the Silver and Black.

Coming off three seasons where the Raiders have a combined 11 wins, an 8-8 year sounds like a tremendous step forward, right? Something Raider fans should be happy about, right? Well, yes and no.

Moton predicates much of his belief about Oakland’s break even season on the idea that the Raiders’ secondary is going to be horrible. More precisely, that D.J. Hayden and Travis Carrie are going to be terrible, which is going to lead to massive failures in the Raiders’ defense, thus more losing.

"“The basis of these predictions were made with a major concern for the Raiders secondary. The starting cornerbacks are a major concern heading into the season. Teams with explosive wide receivers capable of going over the top or dominating with physicality have the advantage over the defense. On a positive note, teams that struggle to move the ball vertically match up poorly against the Raiders.”"

So, if you’re scoring at home, in Moton’s assessment, if you’re a team that can throw the ball, you’re going to be able to have your way with the Raiders, but if you’re a team that can’t, you’re in trouble.

We grant Moton the fact that both Hayden and Carrie are to this point, still relatively unproven. But both have shown that they have the potential to be very, very good. The fact that they will have Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, as well as former All Pro Marcus Robertson – not to mention future Hall of Famer Charles Woodson – coaching them, bodes very well for their development. They key of course, will be their health and ability to stay on the field.

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While it would be outlandish to suggest that Oakland is a serious Super Bowl contender at this point, stranger things have happened. Fortunes in the NFL can change in the blink of an eye. A key injury here, an unproven player really stepping up there, can change the entire complexion of a team’s season. Would Seattle be as dominant without Marshawn Lynch? Would Denver be competitive if Peyton Manning got hurt? How good could Chicago be if Jay Cutler played halfway decent ball?

There are a myriad of factors in play, and the margin between success and failure in the NFL is often razor thin. With a vastly upgraded defense that will be able to stop the run, as well as get after the quarterback, an offense that seemed to be finding a rhythm in the latter stages of 2014, and most importantly, a very experienced coaching staff who will be able to formulate a coherent game plan – and likely make great in-game adjustments – the Raiders might just be better than some people seem to believe.

Having said all that, perhaps they’re all right, we’re all wrong. Perhaps, we’re simply seeing the world through Silver and Black colored glasses. Unless you’re a genuine clairvoyant, predicting the outcome of a season is much like predicting the performance of a highly touted draft pick – it’s inconsistent at best.

But in looking at the moves that have been made this offseason, coupled with moves made last season that are starting to bear fruit, as well as the substantial steps forward we saw the team take in the last six games of the season, we can’t help but feel a little more optimistic than most.

With all of that in mind, we’ve pored over all of the data, extrapolated it to the current schedule – and have pulled a good measure out of our backsides – and now bring you our win-loss predictions for the Oakland Raiders in 2015.

Next: Week One: Cincinnati Bengals

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Oakland Raiders 2015 Schedule: Predicting The Team’s Wins and Losses

By Kevin Saito | Apr 27, 2015