Chief Challengers: Raiders
The latest newsletter from KCSN Sports Data Scientist, Joseph Hefner
It is once again that time of year where I count down the biggest challengers to the Chiefs in 2025. Yes, yes, I hear you. The Raiders are not a challenger to the Chiefs in 2025. Nevertheless, they are a division rival, and all division rivals get an automatic spot in this series. I will preview the Raiders, Broncos and Chargers, and then the three AFC teams who have the best Super Bowl odds outside of the Chiefs. That is currently the Bills, Ravens, and Bengals.
The Raiders began last season having made the auspicious decision of hiring Antonio Pierce, their interim head coach in 2023, as their head coach for 2024. This decision worked about as well as everyone outside of Raiders HQ thought it would, and the raiders ended the season with a 4-13 record. That was good for the 6th overall pick in the 2025 draft, and one of the only good things to happen for the Raiders in 2024.
Tight end Brock Bowers is the only other real exception. The 13th overall pick in 2024 amassed 112 catches for 1,194 yards and 5 touchdowns. That is a very impressive performance for any tight end, much less a rookie catching passes from the likes of Gardner Minshew and Aiden O’Connell. He will have Geno Smith throwing to him this year, which is a sizeable improvement in that QB room.
