Geno Smith has perfect message for all the Raiders doubters

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had what is, on paper, an improved Las Vegas Raiders side at +330 betting odds to make the playoffs for the upcoming season. Only five teams had worse odds of qualifying for the postseason tournament at that time. 

During a Monday appearance on NFL Network's "Inside Training Camp Live" program, new Raiders starting quarterback Geno Smith sent a strong message to those who are predicting Las Vegas will be somewhat of an afterthought by Christmas Day. 

"I'm always the guy that I believe the game gets settled between the white lines on game day," Smith explained, as shared by Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "But from my vantage point, we've got a really, really good team. I don't know if we'll shock anyone inside of this building, but maybe shock some outsiders. But it's good, like let them sleep. I don't want them to see us coming. We're just working in the shadows right now, getting our game right, and when it's time to go in those bright lights, I think we'll be ready."

Smith has a history of offering viral quotes. Perhaps his best of the bunch emerged after a Seattle Seahawks win in September 2022 when he famously said: "They wrote me off; I ain't write back, though."

As it pertains to the 2025 Raiders, Mike Jones of The Athletic named Las Vegas as a winner of the offseason after the club hired John Spytek as its general manager and Pete Carroll as its head coach. The new Raiders regime then acquired Smith from the Seahawks, signed star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby to a multiyear contract extension and made promising running back Ashton Jeanty the sixth pick of this year's draft. 

On Tuesday, DraftKings Sportsbook had Jeanty as the betting favorite at +275 odds to claim the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the 2025 campaign. 

Smith previously found success playing under Carroll from 2019-23 when Carroll was Seattle's coach. The Raiders gave Smith a vote of confidence when they handed the 34-year-old a two-year extension this past spring. 

Smith will first get an opportunity to back his words up with his play when the Raiders open the regular season with a matchup at the New England Patriots on Sept. 7.