The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t won more than 10 regular season games since 2016. With Antonio Pierce now handling the full head coaching reins, there’s renewed enthusiasm for the franchise, with many thinking about the playoffs in Sin City following their late-season charge in 2023.
Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming 2024 schedule for the silver and black. We determine what their strength of schedule (SOS) ranks, our record prediction, and lastly, we’ll pinpoint the biggest games on the Raiders’ schedule.
Las Vegas Raiders’ Schedule and Opponents
The complete 2024 NFL schedule will be released on May 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
While we don’t know the Raiders’ exact schedule, we do know who their opponents will be for the 2024 season. Las Vegas will face the following teams this season:
Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers
Road: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams
Raiders’ Strength of Schedule
Are Pierce and the Raiders receiving a fierce gauntlet of opponents in their first full season together?
Using PFN’s in-house metric, Las Vegas has the league’s 10th-hardest schedule (and the hardest among AFC West teams).
Even the Super Bowl champs and rival to the Raiders, the Chiefs, have an easier schedule than Vegas.
Raiders Record Prediction: 7-10
The Raiders’ win total for 2024 is set at 6.5 by DraftKings Sportsbook, with the juice heavily set to the over (-135). Pierce having an uncertain quarterback room likely plays a factor in this outlook.
Last season, Pierce rolled with rookie Aidan O’Connell behind center to finish 5-4 overall. However, the offense never established consistency each week with O’Connell, and many across the league feel he’s better suited in a backup role. The franchise did sign 2023 Pro Bowler Gardner Minshew during the offseason. However, Minshew has never completed a full regular season amid injuries.
The Raiders were expected to target a quarterback with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but with Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix off the board by the time they were on the clock, Vegas instead went with the best player available: tight end Brock Bowers.
Brock Bowers adds a potentially elite weapon to the #Raiders offense. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dZKXfh9y0q
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
Pierce found a way to energize the Raiders through defense — establishing a unit that allowed an average of only 16 points per game in the final nine contests compared to the 23.4 they were surrendering.
As the Raiders figure out their QB situation, Pierce will likely rely on defense to keep this team competitive in games — and potentially hit past the seven-win prediction they’ve been given.
Prime-Time Games
Last season, the Raiders had five prime-time games. Only the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chargers and Dallas Cowboys had more nationally televised games than Las Vegas.
Given their huge fan base, Las Vegas seems like a lock to get a handful of prime-time games each season. Which matchups make the most sense for a prime-time slot?
Biggest Matchups of the Year
Every AFC West battle will come with high stakes and plenty of intrigue, but the matchup against the defending champion Chiefs is certainly one to circle.
Also, the Raiders will embark on a road trip to the Big Easy to face a QB they know very well: Derek Carr, their former four-time Pro Bowler. They’ll also face former Raiders head coach Dennis Allen, who beat the Raiders 24-0 in their last meeting in 2022. This game will come with plenty of emotions.
KEEP READING: AFC Offseason Grades: Ranking All 16 Teams
For this team to prove they’re capable of making a playoff run under Pierce, they’ll have to beat the 2023 postseason representatives on their list of opponents. The Browns and Steelers are two AFC playoff foes coming to Allegiant Stadium.
The road setup, though, is loaded with contenders, including last year’s AFC runner-up Ravens and a Wild Card representative in the Dolphins, who will face their former defensive tackle and major Raiders signing Christian Wilkins.
