Las Vegas Raiders' schedule 2020: Viva Las Vegas means four home prime-time games

The Las Vegas Raiders' schedule for 2020 was released Thursday.

The regular season kicks off with the Houston Texans hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 10 (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). The opening doubleheader for Monday Night Football will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New York Giants (7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the Tennessee Titans at the Denver Broncos (10:20 p.m. ET) on Monday, Sept. 14.

Check out the full week-by-week schedule here. Here's what's in store for the Raiders:

Game-by-game prediction

Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez is predicting a 7-9 finish:

Sept. 13: at Carolina, Win

Sept. 21: vs. New Orleans, Loss

Sept. 27: at New England, Loss

Oct. 4: vs. Buffalo, Win

Oct. 11: at Kansas City, Loss

Oct. 25: vs. Tampa Bay, Loss

Nov. 1: at Cleveland, Win

Nov. 8: at L.A. Chargers, Loss

Nov. 15: vs. Denver, Win

Nov. 22: vs. Kansas City, Loss

Nov. 29: at Atlanta, Loss

Dec. 6: at N.Y. Jets, Loss

Dec. 13: vs Indianapolis, Win

Dec. 17: vs. L.A. Chargers, Win

Dec. 26 or 27: vs. Miami, Win

Jan. 3: at Denver, Loss

Strength of schedule: .496, 21st

Breakdown

The Raiders have little, if anything, to complain about when it comes to this year's schedule. Especially in the wake of last year's unbelievably rough slate (after playing at home on Sept. 15, they did not see Oakland again until Nov. 3). Sure, the rebranded Las Vegas franchise has six kickoffs at 10 a.m. PT and a pair of two-game roadies in the middle of the season, but it also has three of its last four games in the comfort of its new, state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium. For the first time since 2015, the Raiders will not play host to an international game, though with consecutive games at Atlanta and the New York Jets in late November/early December, perhaps Las Vegas stays out east that week, as the Raiders did in 2016 and 2017 in Florida. And with four home prime-time games to show off the new digs, it's a schedule custom-made for a gambling team on the come.

Live, from Sin City

The Raiders' four prime-time games at home are a franchise record, and the star power that comes with the matchups are more than worthy for when Allegiant Stadium's lanai doors slide open to reveal the Strip in all its nighttime opulent glory. Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints for the first regular-season game in Las Vegas, and on Monday Night Football? Check. Tom "Tuck Rule" Brady, Gronk and the Buccaneers on a Sunday night before Halloween? Indeed. Patrick Mahomes and the reigning champion Chiefs on a Sunday night before Thanksgiving week? Say no more. The Chargers on a short week in mid-December? You miss Philip Rivers, don't ya?

Cold weather, what cold weather?

The Raiders in general, QB Derek Carr in particular, have struggled when the temperatures dip. Carr is 0 for his last 10 in games where the temperature was 50 degrees or below at kickoff, per Associated Press. So, seeing only roadies at the New York Jets on Dec. 6 and at Denver on Jan. 3 in the last five games of the season has to warm the cockles of Raider Nation's heart. Also, it is the first time in seven years the Raiders will not play a regular-season game in Kansas City in December or later -- though it will be the seventh straight year in which the Raiders close the season on the road.