Sure, the Raiders have the fourth-toughest strength of schedule in the NFL, but it is the easiest in the AFC West. The division is that tough. A brutal schedule that begins and ends with three of four on the road and includes a week in Florida and a “home” game in Mexico in November present tough challenges for a team that may be better than last year’s 12-4 outfit that tied for the league lead with plus-16 in takeaway/giveaways but actually have a worse record. I had the Raiders going 11-5 in the immediate aftermath of the schedule being released in April, but an uneven training camp and preseason have me rethinking the opener at a dangerous Tennessee Titans team.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 10, at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET
The Raiders will play in Nashville for the third straight season. They are 2-0 in Music City in that time. But the Titans are dangerous and the Raiders -- in the aftermath of Donald Penn's holdout, first-round draft pick Gareon Conley's injury and unanswered questions at middle linebacker -- are ripe for an upset in a shootout. Call it a hunch. Record: 0-1
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 17, vs. New York Jets, 4:05 p.m. ET
How will the crowd react to the Raiders taking to the Black Hole for the first time since the organization won the right to relocate to Las Vegas by 2020? Thumping a bad J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets team will serve as a salve of sorts. Record: 1-1
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 24, at Washington, 8:30 p.m. ET
Any bumps the Raiders experienced in the first two weeks should be smoothed out by the time they make their 2017 national TV debut in the nation’s capital. Meaning, anyone not familiar with the Raiders’ high-powered offense will see it on full display. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 1, at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Even if the defenses of the Raiders and Broncos cancel each other out -- we’re looking at you, Khalil Mack and Von Miller -- Oakland has Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Marshawn Lynch and the Raiders have already shown they can run the ball down Denver’s throat. The Broncos? They have Michael Crabtree’s chain. We’re looking at you, Aqib Talib. Record: 3-1
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 8, vs. Baltimore Ravens, 4:05 p.m. ET
When did the Ravens join the AFC West? Or did the Raiders flip to the AFC North? Regardless, Oakland should win its third game in as many years against Baltimore, and the dirt infield at the Coliseum should be gone. Record: 4-1
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 15, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET
The more things change in this ancient AFL rivalry, the more they stay the same as the Las Vegas-bound Raiders, who have won four straight against the once-again Los Angeles Chargers, continue their torrid start to the season and overall ownership of the Bolts -- even if Philip Rivers gives the Raiders fits, especially in Oakland. Record: 5-1
Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 19, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 8:25 p.m. ET
Even Carr wondered what all the excitement over the Raiders was about this offseason, given that they were swept by the Chiefs last year. In fact, Carr is just 1-5 against Kansas City in his career. Until Oakland solves Kansas City, it’s hard to pick the Raiders, even if it is a third straight home game, a short week and on national TV. Record: 5-2
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 29, at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET
Paging Admiral Ackbar because this has “It’s a Trap” Game written all over it. Especially when you consider that while the Raiders have won the past two meetings, those were both in Oakland, and they are 0-2 the past two times they’ve played in Buffalo. Record: 5-3
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 5, at Miami Dolphins, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Raiders head to Florida from Buffalo for a week of practice at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, just like last year between games at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. This time, a prime-time game awaits, against the lone team to vote against their Las Vegas relocation. Record: 6-3
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 12, BYE WEEK. Ah, yes, the new normal in the streets of Silver and Blackdom. The Raiders are favored over the bye.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 19, vs. New England Patriots in Mexico City, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Las Vegas Raiders of Oakland, Los Angeles and Oakland again might add the Mexico City Malosos (Bad Boys) to their title, what with their second “home” game in as many years down south. This time, they have the opportunity to learn how to say “tuck rule” en Espanol and maybe this time Lynch is the one to jack Tom Brady’s jersey, let alone shine a green laser in his eyes. Unless Oakland’s defense is shored up, though, Brady will pick it apart, and then maybe East Bay fans, who deserved to have this game in Oakland, won’t feel so bad. Record: 6-4
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 26, vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Mack and Miller continue their assault on the NFL sack record. Thing is, the Raiders simply match up well against the Broncos. Record: 7-4
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 3, vs. New York Giants, 4:25 p.m. ET
Giants fans will pump up Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Raiders fans counter by saying, Take a number behind Jim Plunkett and Tom Flores. The Raiders should win that argument and this game. Record: 8-4
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 10, at Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET
So, did Carr’s deep pass to Cooper hit the Spidercam above Arrowhead Stadium on that frigid December evening? Has Carr figured out the Chiefs yet? Are the AFC West teams simply cannibalizing each other by now? Record: 8-5
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 17, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET
Through the first 18 Super Bowls, the Raiders played in four, the Cowboys in five. And yet, they never faced each other. Still haven’t. Might this, then, be a preview of this season's Super Bowl, and in what could potentially be the final regular-season game in Oakland, and in prime time? Emotion sides with the home team here. Record: 9-5
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 25, at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 p.m. ET
Here comes that Admiral Ackbar guy again, this time warning of an emotional letdown on Christmas night on national television. Philly fans once booed Santa Claus, so what are the Raiders in for here? Perhaps once and for all, Carr and Mack settle their foot-speed beef and race up the Rocky steps? Record: 9-6
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 31, at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Raiders, had they won the vote to relocate to Los Angeles two years ago with the Chargers, would have played immediately at the StubHub Center. And given the way Raider Nation took over San Diego last December, in the 27,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, it might still be a Raiders home game. Is 10-6, then, good enough to win the division? Record: 10-6