Raiders Lost at Sea: When Was the Last Time They Were Relevant in the NFL?
The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to maintain relevance in the NFL, with their most recent meaningful season occurring in 2002 when they reached the Super Bowl. Despite a 10-7 record in 2023, they remained on the periphery of the league's main storylines. The franchise, including new additions like quarterback Fernando Mendoza, aims to regain consistent prominence in the NFL.
- ▪The Raiders' last truly relevant season was in 2002, when they lost Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- ▪In 2016, the Raiders showed promise but lost starting quarterback Derek Carr to injury, ending their playoff hopes.
- ▪The team has not won a playoff game since the 2002 season.
- ▪Despite a winning record in 2023, the Raiders were not central to the NFL's major narratives.
- ▪Quarterback Rich Gannon, the starter during their last relevant season, is now 60 years old.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Relevancy.While it's impossible to play in the Super Bowl every year unless you're the New England Patriots or the Kansas City Chiefs, being a main character in the epic that is the NFL is important for maintaining a positive fanbase.You might not be making it to a title game every year, but you're a perennial contender, getting to circle marquee games on the schedule as important.
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