LAS VEGAS — One of the most anticipated days of the year for NFL fans is the schedule release.
For Raider Nation, things are clearer as the Las Vegas Raiders now have an idea of how the 2022-23 campaign will pan out with the 10th most difficult schedule based on their opponents’ winning percentage from last season.
Raiders opponents produced a winning percentage of .524 last season. Considering Las Vegas went 6-11 and will have a different quarterback leading the offense for the first time in 10 years, the challenge is daunting for the upcoming campaign.
With the 17-game format in place for the third season, the Raiders will host nine games and play eight on the road after their three preseason games against the 49ers (home), Rams (road), Cowboys (road).
The Raiders open the season with three of four on the road. They’ll also appear on primetime five times, twice each on Sunday and Monday Night Football, and once on Thursday Night Football.
Highlighting the primetime games include Las Vegas’ home opener, which will be on Sunday Night Football against the Steelers. Davante Adams will welcome to town his old team, the Packers, for a Monday night game in Week 5. Aaron Rodgers will stroll into Allegiant Stadium with the Jets for a Sunday Night clash in Week 10.
The following capsules are a quick synopsis of each game the Raiders will play next season.
All times are pacific, projected lines were provided from a Las Vegas sportsbook source, the series history provides the Raiders’ all-time record against each opponent, the spread record provides insight into the Raiders’ all-time point-spread marks against each opponent, there is the final score from the last meeting, and quick thoughts on these matchups. (All time records for series and point spread via Stathead.com)
WEEK 1 OPPONENT: at Denver Broncos
DATE & TIME: Sept. 10 — 1:25 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Broncos -3
SERIES HISTORY: 70-53-2
VS. SPREAD: 64-57-3
LAST MEETING: Nov. 20, 2022 — Raiders 22-16 (OT), at Denver
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Silver and Black will open their season on the road, at a division rival, and it’ll set the tone for the first two weeks, as the Raiders follow their season-opener with a trip to the East Coast. With Sean Payton now coaching the Broncos, and Russell Wilson hoping to bounce back from a disappointing debut season in Denver, the Raiders’ defensive remodel will be tested immediately.
WEEK 2 OPPONENT: at Buffalo Bills
DATE & TIME: Sept. 17 — 10 am
PROJECTED LINE: Bills -9
SERIES HISTORY: 21-19-0
VS. SPREAD: 22-17-1
LAST MEETING: Oct. 4, 2020 — Bills 30-23, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: On paper, traveling to play a healthy Bills squad will be no easy chore, and seems downright impossible to conquer. Even the thought of the Bills team that played near the end of last season with an injured Josh Allen would be tough for the Raiders. Nevertheless, this is a new season, and we’ll see if Las Vegas’ revamped defense will up to the task. Good thing for the Raiders is they’ll travel to Orchard Park in September, rather than December.
WEEK 3 OPPONENT: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
DATE & TIME: Sept. 24 — 5:20 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Steelers -1
SERIES HISTORY: 14-11-0
VS. SPREAD: 16-9-0
LAST MEETING: Dec. 24, 2022 — Steelers 13-10, at Pittsburgh
QUICK THOUGHTS: One week after a miraculous win over the Patriots, the Raiders traveled to Pittsburgh for a primetime game on Christmas Eve, and were shut down to the tune of 201 offensive yards in a 13-10 loss. It was the start of a season-ending three-game losing skid, and also ended up being the final game Derek Carr would take a snap for the Raiders ever again. Now the Steelers catch the Raiders for the start of the Jimmy Garoppolo era.
WEEK 4 OPPONENT: at Los Angeles Chargers
DATE & TIME: Oct. 1 — 1:05 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Chargers -6
SERIES HISTORY: 67-57-2
VS. SPREAD: 57-69-0
LAST MEETING: Dec. 4, 2022 — Raiders 27-20, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: With Derek Carr in New Orleans, we’re not sure who Joey Bosa will talk trash about on this team. Sure, it’s only a quick jaunt across the Cal-Neva border, but it doesn’t go unnoticed the Raiders open their season with three of their first four games on the road – this rivalry being the third in four weeks.
WEEK 5 OPPONENT: vs. Green Bay Packers
DATE & TIME: Oct. 9 — 5:15 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Raiders -1.5
SERIES HISTORY: 5-8-0
VS. SPREAD: 5-8-0
LAST MEETING: Oct. 20, 2019 — Packers 42-24, at Green Bay, WI
QUICK THOUGHTS: This will be the first meeting with Green Bay since Davante Adams joined the Silver and Black. Interestingly enough, the Packers will play every franchise they’ve ever faced in a Super Bowl: Chiefs, Raiders, Patriots, Broncos, Steelers. More interesting will be whether or not either one of these teams can make the postseason with new quarterbacks leading their respective offensive units.
WEEK 6 OPPONENT: vs. New England Patriots
DATE & TIME: Oct. 15 — 1:05 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Raiders -1.5
SERIES HISTORY: 15-18-1
VS. SPREAD: 19-15-0
LAST MEETING: Dec. 18, 2022 — Raiders 30-24, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Patriots who remain with the team from last season certainly haven’t forgotten about one of the biggest blunders of the entire season. Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson burst up the middle, lateraled to Jakobi Meyers, who then sailed the ball to quarterback Mac Jones, but was picked off by Chandler Jones, who raced 48 yards for the walk-off win. Meyers is now with the Raiders, but the stinging memory undoubtedly lives on.
WEEK 7 OPPONENT: at Chicago Bears
DATE & TIME: Oct. 22 — 10 am
PROJECTED LINE: Bears -3.5
SERIES HISTORY: 8-8-0
VS. SPREAD: 3-10-3
LAST MEETING: Oct. 10, 2021 — Bears 20-9, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: While the Raiders will face one of the more electrifying dual-threat quarterbacks in the league, Justin Fields, they’ll also take a crack at one of last season’s worst defensive units. Chicago ranked dead last in allowing 27.2 points per game. The Bears also gave up the second-most rushing yards per game (157.3), which could very well open the door for the NFL’s reigning rushing champ, Josh Jacobs.
WEEK 8 OPPONENT: at Detroit Lions
DATE & TIME: Oct. 30 — 5:15 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Lions -6
SERIES HISTORY: 7-6-0
VS. SPREAD: 8-5-0
LAST MEETING: Nov. 3, 2019 — Raiders 31-24, at Oakland
QUICK THOUGHTS: The climb from the cellar under Dan Campbell has been impressive, going from three wins in his first season in 2021, to nine wins last season and narrowly missing the playoffs. Now they approach his third season in the conversation for NFC Central Division contender. The Lions ranked fifth in the league with 26.6 points per game and fourth in the NFL with 2.48 points per drive. Problem for them is their defense ranked second-to-last in the league in allowing 2.32 points per drive, and dead last in giving up 37.7 yards per drive. Is it too early to bet the total over?
WEEK 9 OPPONENT: vs. New York Giants
DATE & TIME: Nov. 5, 2023 — 1:25 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Raiders -1
SERIES HISTORY: 8-6-0
VS. SPREAD: 7-7-0
LAST MEETING: Nov. 7, 2021 — Giants 23-16, at East Rutherford, NJ
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Giants cleaned house before the start of last season, shedding any remnants from the Eli Manning era. They opened the season 6-2, made it to the postseason and even ran roughshod through the Vikings for 431 yards of offense en route to their first playoff victory since 2011. Now they visit Allegiant Stadium in Darren Waller’s first game in Las Vegas as a Giant. This could prove to be a major midseason test.
WEEK 10 OPPONENT: vs. New York Jets
DATE & TIME: Nov. 12 – 5:20 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Jets -3.5
SERIES HISTORY: 24-18-2
VS. SPREAD: 20-20-3
LAST MEETING: Dec. 6, 2020 — Raiders 31-28, at East Rutherford, NJ
QUICK THOUGHTS: Aaron Rodgers arrives in Las Vegas, and will face his former star receiver for the first time. The Jets had one of the top defensive units in the league last season, and not much changes on that side of the ball. Now, with Rodgers, the Jets could prove to be one of the most balanced teams in the league.
WEEK 11 OPPONENT: at Miami Dolphins
DATE & TIME: Nov. 19 — 10 am
PROJECTED LINE: Dolphins -5.5
SERIES HISTORY: 18-18-1
VS. SPREAD: 14-22-1
LAST MEETING: Sept. 26, 2021 — Raiders 31-28 (OT), at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: In a battle of second-year, offensive-minded coaches, as the minds of Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels and Miami coach Mike McDaniel come together near South Beach. McDaniel certainly had the better inaugural campaign. Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will provide one of the toughest tests to the Raiders’ untested secondary, which was torched for 4,129 yards passing last season – fourth-most in the NFL.
WEEK 12 OPPONENT: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
DATE & TIME: Nov. 26, 2023 – 1:25 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Chiefs -7
SERIES HISTORY: 53-70-2
VS. SPREAD: 53-64-6
LAST MEETING: Jan. 7, 2023 — Chiefs 31-13, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: The AFC West rivals will have their first meeting at Allegiant Stadium, which is probably better for the Raiders. Then again, considering how easily the Chiefs won in Las Vegas last season, there is no easy way to look at Patrick Mahomes’ arrival. Considering these two are meeting in the second half of the season, the Raiders need to have some momentum behind them and will hope to be above .500 at this point.
WEEK 13 OPPONENT: Bye Week
WEEK 14 OPPONENT: vs. Minnesota Vikings
DATE & TIME: Dec. 10 – 1:05 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Pick’em
SERIES HISTORY: 9-6-0
VS. SPREAD: 8-7-0
LAST MEETING: Sept. 22, 2019 — Vikings 34-14, at Minneapolis
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Vikings were an impressive group last season, going 13-4 under first-year coach Kevin O’Connell. The biggest question for the Vikings will be if the offense shows improvement or regression. After all, they did score fewer points than their opponents, despite posting a winning record. Pending how the season goes for both teams, leading up to the final stretch, this could very well be a gauntlet of an opponent.
WEEK 15 OPPONENT: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
DATE & TIME: Dec. 14 — 5:15 pm
PROJECTED LINE: Chargers -3
SERIES HISTORY: 67-57-2
VS. SPREAD: 57-69-0
LAST MEETING: Dec. 4, 2022 — Raiders 27-20, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: Nothing like the Raiders and Chargers in Thursday primetime, especially this late in the season. If both of these teams are chasing a wild-card berth, or – dare we say it – are in the hunt for a division title, this will make for an intriguing game at Allegiant.
WEEK 16 OPPONENT: at Kansas City Chiefs
DATE & TIME: Dec. 25 — 10 am
PROJECTED LINE: Chiefs -10
SERIES HISTORY: 53-70-2
VS. SPREAD: 53-64-6
LAST MEETING: Jan. 7, 2023 — Chiefs 31-13, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: Get those Christmas presents opened early, and get your hot cocoa ready for Christmas morning football. The question is will the second meeting between the AFC West rivals be as meaningful to the Raiders as it should be for the presumably playoff-bound Chiefs?
WEEK 17 OPPONENT: at Indianapolis Colts
DATE & TIME: Dec. 31 — 10 am
PROJECTED LINE: Colts -2.5
SERIES HISTORY: 10-9-0
VS. SPREAD: 11-8-0
LAST MEETING: Nov. 13, 2022 — Colts 25-20, at Las Vegas
QUICK THOUGHTS: When these two met last season, it was the coaching debut of then-interim coach Jeff Saturday, and the postgame press conference we saw Derek Carr become emotional when addressing if there was discord with he and the coaching staff. The Colts hired Shane Steichen away from the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 14, and he certainly brings an offensive flair to Indy. Expectations will be high after he helped lead the Green Birds to the Super Bowl. It’ll be intriguing to see whether or not Anthony Richardson will be guiding this offense by now.
WEEK 18 OPPONENT: vs. Denver Broncos
DATE & TIME: TBD
PROJECTED LINE: Pick’em
SERIES HISTORY: 70-53-2
VS. SPREAD: 64-57-3
LAST MEETING: Nov. 20, 2022 — Raiders 22-16 (OT), at Denver
QUICK THOUGHTS: The bookended opponent, the same teams that kicked off the season will finish it in Las Vegas, with the Broncos visiting Allegiant Stadium. Could this be another AFC West showdown that finishes the season with a playoff berth on the line? We saw what happened two seasons back when the Chargers visited Las Vegas. Raiders fans would much rather have their team locked into a postseason berth by now, but a final-week showdown between the Silver and Black and Orange Crush would be a lot of fun.
