The Las Vegas Raiders suffered through a miserable season in 2025, but it paid off with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Now, the Raiders are entering a new era after taking Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick and hiring Klint Kubiak as their new head coach to replace Pete Carroll.
Mendoza will enter what is a pretty good situation on the Las Vegas offense, even if the offensive line is a year away from being really solid. Ashton Jeanty should give the Raiders a competent running game, and Brock Bowers is a great top target for a rookie quarterback. Even if Mendoza doesn't start over Kirk Cousins right away, he will have a number of weapons to work with when he does enter the lineup.
The defense is going to be a work in progress, but the Raiders have a star to rely on after the return of Maxx Crosby.
All in all, this should be a much better Raiders team than the team that went 2-15 a season ago. Now, we know what their path is after the 2026 NFL schedule was released on Thursday night. How much can the Raiders improve in year one of the Kubiak-Mendoza era?
Week 1 vs. Dolphins (Sunday, Sept. 13): Win
This was a good break for the Raiders who get a home game against a rebuilding Dolphins team that will be dealing with the same continuity issues that they are in Las Vegas. This one won't be pretty, but Klint Kubiak gets his Raiders tenure started with a win.
Week 2 at Chargers (Sunday, Sept. 20): Loss
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) tackles Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Week 2 represents a step up in competition against a Chargers team that has a chance to see major improvements thanks to the Mike McDaniel-Justin Herbert pairing. Las Vegas got Maxx Crosby back after the trade with the Ravens went through, but it doesn't have the personnel to keep up in this one. Los Angeles gets the upper hand in the division race with a win.
Week 3 at Saints (Sunday, Sept. 27): Loss
The Saints have chance to be a sneaky good offense in 2026 with Tyler Shough throwing to Jordyn Tyson and Chris Olave and Kellen Moore pulling the strings. That will be too much for the Raiders defense, though Las Vegas should have enough offensive firepower of its own to make this a fun track meet in the Superdome.
Week 4 vs. Chiefs (Sunday, Oct. 4): Loss
The Chiefs come to town in Week 4, and Kansas City is going to be dialed in right from the start after shockingly missing the playoffs in 2025. The Raiders just don't have the personnel on either side of the ball to keep up with an experienced Chiefs team that has much loftier goals this season. This is a game where this young Las Vegas squad is going to have to take its lumps and learn from it.
Week 5 at Patriots (Sunday, Oct. 11): Loss
The Pats could very well be 1-3 coming into this game after a very difficult stretch of schedule to start their season, and this is a good get-right game for them. The Raiders don't have enough pass-rush juice outside of Crosby to expose New England's protection issues, and Drake Maye should be able to carve up this Raiders secondary. The Raiders pulled what later turned out to be a stunning upset of the Patriots in Week 1 last season, but it's not meant to be this time around.
Week 6 vs. Bills (Sunday, Oct. 18): Loss
The Bills will have some of their own problems to sort through, especially on defense after firing Sean McDermott. However, the offense should still be elite with Josh Allen at quarterback and Joe Brady calling the plays as the new head coach. That's enough for them to run away with this game against an inferior Raiders defense on the other side.
Week 7 vs. Rams (Sunday, Oct. 25): Loss
The latest game in this brutal stretch of schedule comes against arguably the best team in the NFL in the Rams. Sean McVay and his offense should have their way with the Raiders on defense, and while Las Vegas might have some answers offensively, the Rams' defensive line will be too much in another lopsided defeat for Las Vegas.
Week 8 at Jets (Sunday, Nov. 1): Win
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw in the first quarter against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Raiders finally get a bit of relief on the schedule, as they take on a Jets team that will be battling for the No. 1 pick in next spring's draft. This is a revenge game for Geno Smith, who is expected to start for Aaron Glenn and company, but this Jets team is so far away on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas' foundation on offense is enough to get it over the line in this game. This would also be a logical spot for Fernando Mendoza to replace Kirk Cousins and make his first NFL start.
Week 9 at 49ers (Sunday, Nov. 8): Loss
After one week against a non-playoff team, the competition ramps back up as the Raiders take on another elite offense. Kyle Shanahan should also have a ton of answers against a Raiders defense that really can't get a break here as Las Vegas falls to 2-7 with another loss.
Week 10 vs. Seahawks (Sunday, Nov. 15): Loss
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Klint Kubiak's reunion with the Seahawks will have a lot of warm embraces after the pair won Super Bowl LX last season, but this Seattle team doesn't make any friends between the whistles. This will be a big-time learning experience for Kubiak and Mendoza on how to deal with a truly elite unit on that side of the ball that flies around and doesn't give you any openings.
Week 11 at Broncos (Sunday, Nov. 22): Loss
Playing in Denver is always tough, but it will be especially difficult for a Raiders team that still hasn't had its bye week and will be worn down from playing against so many good teams. The Denver offense is susceptible to keeping bad teams in some games at times, but the Broncos should be able to do enough at home to get the win here.
Week 12 at Browns (Sunday, Nov. 29): Loss
The Raiders will be fully in bye week mode heading into a game that could be ugly. At home, the Raiders would have a chance to get a win here, but Myles Garrett and a talented Browns defense should have the upper hand in a cold day game in Cleveland. The Browns hand the Raiders their 10th loss of the season here.
Week 13 – BYE
Week 14 vs. Chargers (Sunday, Dec. 13): Loss
The Raiders will be refreshed coming out of the bye, but this is also the part of the season where the Chargers should be clicking into gear with two new coordinators. With Los Angeles battling for a wild card spot in December, Jim Harbaugh and company get it done in the second half to drop the Raiders to 2-11.
Week 15 vs. Broncos (Sunday, Dec. 20): Win
Denver Broncos center Luke Wattenberg (60) prepares to snap the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at Allegiant Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Broncos seem to always toss in a weird performance in a division game every year, and this would be a great spot for it. Denver has a short week before a huge Christmas Day game against the Bills coming up after this, and this is a perfect spot for a trap game for an offense that has been inconsistent at best. At the same time, Mendoza and the Raiders should be starting to play better and better as they build chemistry together.
Week 16 vs. Titans (Sunday, Dec. 27): Loss
This matchup could get a lot of buzz as a battle between the last two No. 1 overall picks, with Mendoza facing off against Cam Ward. The Titans will likely be out of the playoff picture as well by this point, but Ward and company are a year farther along in their rebuild. They get a close win in a fun battle here.
Week 17 at Cardinals (Sunday, Jan. 3): Win
The Cardinals are another team that will be watching Arch Manning tape by this time in the season, while the Raiders already have their franchise quarterback and will be focused on building a winning culture in the locker room. Las Vegas has more motivation to get a win here and will do so against an Arizona roster that is one of the worst in the NFL.
Week 18 at Chiefs (Date TBD): Loss
The Chiefs will very likely be battling for playoff seeding in Week 18, and potentially even an AFC West title. The Raiders, on the other hand, still aren't ready to compete with the big boys in the AFC yet. After a promising close to the regular season, Las Vegas falls to its division rival in the final game of the regular season.
Final record: 4-13
The Las Vegas Raiders suffered through a miserable season in 2025, but it paid off with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Now, the Raiders are entering a new era after taking Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick and hiring Klint Kubiak as their new head coach to replace Pete Carroll.