While we’ve known the Las Vegas Raiders’ opponents for next season for a while now, oftentimes, when they play certain clubs matters just as much as who they play. Having to face reigning playoff teams is a lot more difficult if the games are back-to-back versus being spread out throughout the season.
Now that we have the Raiders’ 2026 schedule, let’s take an early look at the toughest stretches on it and see where this young team will face its toughest battles and have a chance to prove itself.
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Weeks 5-7
Matchups: @ Patriots, vs. Bills, @ Rams
This stretch can get even tougher if Patrick Mahomes is healthy and hits the ground running for the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City comes to Las Vegas in Week 4, and the Raiders will have to play the up-and-coming New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers in the two games prior. That would mean the Silver and Black play four reigning playoff teams, a two-time MVP and the runner-up for last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in six of the first seven weeks of the season.
But even if Mahomes is stumbling out of the gate, this will be a brutal three weeks for the Raiders.
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The New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams were all in the NFL’s “elite eight”, if you will, last season. The Patriots are coming off an AFC Championship, while the Bills were an overtime loss away from meeting their division rival in the postseason, and the Rams posed the biggest threat to spoiling the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run.
Plus, two out of three matchups are on the road to give the young Raiders a tough test in October.
Weeks 9-11
Matchups: @ 49ers, vs. Seahawks, @ Broncos
Only an away game against the New York Jets separates these two stretches, as the Raiders have a gauntlet in the middle of their schedule. Playing against the best division in the league is a brutal draw regardless of when the matchups occur, and facing the top three times in the NFC West over a four-week span certainly doesn’t make matters any easier.
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The San Francisco 49ers were one of the most resilient teams in the league last year, dealing with several injuries but still finishing with a 12-5 record to earn a postseason berth and then win a playoff game on the road. Then, Las Vegas hosts the defending champs before a road matchup with the Denver Broncos, a division rival and team that easily could have faced Seattle in the Super Bowl had it not been for an injury to quarterback Bo Nix right before the AFC Championship.
That’s three games against reigning playoff teams that are expected to be in contention again this season, and two of the three contests are away from Allegiant Stadium. Also, it creates a stretch where the Raiders face six 2025 playoff teams in seven weeks.
Weeks 14-15
Matchups: vs. Chargers, vs. Broncos
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Of the three stretches listed here, this one is certainly the easiest. Las Vegas hosts both matchups, and it’s only a two-game run while the others feature three. However, both the Chargers and the Broncos made the playoffs last year and are expected to be contenders again this fall. Plus, it’s back-to-back divisional games, and Los Angeles and Denver have both swept Las Vegas in each of the last two seasons.
Luckily, the Silver and Black will have a bye in Week 13 to get prepared for this two-game run in mid-December.