The Las Vegas Raiders will look to start the 2025 NFL season 2-0 when they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. However, one former Raider wants to see how the team comes out at home before buying into the team this season.
In Week 1, New Raiders starting quarterback Geno Smith made a strong debut, going 24-for-34 for 362 yards and a touchdown. His only passing score came early, a 26-yard strike to Tre Tucker in the first quarter.
Smith also effectively targeted tight end Brock Bowers, connecting five times for 103 yards. In the fourth quarter, he hit fellow rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr. on a 36-yard completion that helped secure the win.
Despite this performance on the road, former Raider Charles Woodson wants to see one thing from the Silver and Black before he fully jumps in to back them as a potential playoff team.
“What will give me more belief in the Raiders is if they can win at home,” Woodson said on the September 14 edition of “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “Last year, they went on the road to beat Baltimore and the great Lamar Jackson, and then they came home the next week, and they lost to Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers.
So they got a big matchup at home Monday night against the Chargers. If they could get a win at home in front of the home crowd and give the home fans something to believe in, then I will believe. So I’m waiting on Monday night to see what happens in that game.”
Charles Woodson Does Like What He Sees From Las Vegas
Despite taking a wait-and-see approach with the 2025 edition of the Raiders, Woodson does like what he saw in the Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. The former cornerback praised the performances of Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty.
I feel good about the Raiders,“ Woodson said. “What I feel good about is I know they can go on the road and win. Geno looked good. He threw some deep passes. I know the Raiders love that. Ashton Jeanty with some tough running yards inside the red zone for a shutdown.
Last season, the Raiders were 2-6 at home, and if the Silver and Black want to reach the playoffs, they will need to turn this record around. A strong record at home and key wins on the road could put the team in the playoff hunt this season.
Geno Smith Earns Praise After Raiders Debut
Woodson hasn’t been the only analyst impressed with Smith hitting the ground running as the Raiders‘ quarterback. CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell also had significant praise for him and believes this success can be sustainable for the entire season.
“I love Geno’s story,“ Kanell said on the September 7 edition of “CBS Sports HQ. “ “He’s taking the long road. What he did in Seattle was phenomenal. And then to show them, he was a playmaker. I mean, the touchdown pass was a beautiful anticipation ball to Tre Tucker, the one where he blooped it over, and it was a great touch pass.
“Then how about him making plays where he’s outside the pocket, the fourth down conversion, where he’s rolling to his left and then knows where to go with the football, throws it all the way back across the field to his right, which is not the most advised pass. It’s ill-advised to try to make a couple of those. He’s a playmaker. He’s got some game left in him, where I think it could make the Raiders an interesting story this season.
Charles Woodson Has Strong Words for Raiders Before Chargers Game