#5 Week 1 versus the Baltimore Ravens
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The first test the Las Vegas Raiders defense will face this season is the Baltimore Ravens, who have Lamar Jackson and a very high-powered offense at their disposal. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, that means stopping Lamar Jackson from slinking out of the pocket and pressuring him as much as possible. The Ravens also have Gus Edwards and J.K Dobbins, who combined for over 1000 yards on the ground last season, which will be another difficult test for the Raiders’ defense.
Derek Carr and his offense will also have to deal with one of the best defenses in the league and somehow string strong drives together to put points on the board. If the Ravens defense can double team the Raiders’ best wide receivers and keep Jacobs from making progress on the run game, it could be game over for Vegas in week one.
#4 Week 2 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers
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And then there’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. That’s right! If the Las Vegas Raiders come out of their contest with the Baltimore Raiders without too many casualties, they will then go on to face one of last year’s early Super Bowl favorites. Of course, the Steelers folded in the first round of the NFL playoffs, making them a bit of a wild card. Still, between Derek Carr being inconsistent when against top-tier teams, and so many questions still up in the air when it comes to the Raiders’ defense, this might be a difficult one for them to win.
#3 Week 10 against the Chiefs
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Whether Raider Nation wants to admit it or not, this is the big game that will put them in contention to make the playoffs in 2021. Of course, it’s the same stepping stone there was last year in the Kansas City Chiefs, but this time the two teams will face each other much later in the season. With that in mind and a plethora of factors that could play out between now and then, this is going to be the momentum swinger that the Raiders need heading into that last seven-game stretch.
If nothing else, the Raiders are more than capable of winning this game, especially since they did 40-32 last year, making this game a true measuring stick for the playoffs. Now, if the Raiders manage to win this contest, it could be all they need to mow over their remaining opponents. If the Chiefs win, however, it could send them reeling and needing a win to stay in contention. Again, it all comes down to where both teams are at this point in the season, but this could be a big win for either competitor.
#2 Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys
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It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys will be a tough matchup for the Las Vegas Raiders if the Cowboys have Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott healthy. In fact, between the Cowboys’ high-powered offense, and the Raiders’ inability to get opposing teams off the field, this is going to probably come down to which defense can hold at the end of the game.
In the end, the Dallas Cowboys seem like the kind of team that can trip up the Raiders as they are trying to limp into a wild card spot. This is where Carr is going to need to find a consistent wide receiver, while also letting Josh Jacobs set the ground on fire with his sometimes explosive running game. If the Raiders can put that kind of combination together, it will mean a win.
#1 Week 17 against The Colts
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Of course, some will claim that the divisional matchups against the Denver Broncos and the Los Angels Chargers will be more important, and to some extent they are, but the Indianapolis Colts are a BIG threat. In fact, it was the Colts that helped rob them off a playoff spot late last season after defeating them 44-27. If that happens again, the Raiders can pretty much kiss any chance they have of making the playoffs goodbye no matter what happens against their division opponents.
The reason for this is that while the Broncos and the Chargers are threats, those teams are not the biggest on the radar. Furthermore, these are teams that the Raiders have pretty good records against with Derek Carr at the helm, giving them a bit of an advantage over their opponents
