The Las Vegas Raiders 2025 schedule was recently released. We will look at the five critical games for the team as they try to make the playoffs in the first season of the Pete Carroll era.
This is the season opener and it needs to be a tone setter for Carroll and his team. Yes, expectations are high under new coach Mike Vrabel in New England, but the Patriots were awful last season and this is a winnable game. So, the Raiders need to go take it. With games against 2024 playoff teams, the Los Angeles Chargers (at home) and the Washington Commanders looming in Weeks 2 and 3 this is the most winnable game of that stretch. The Raiders need to take this game to be 1-2 at worst. An 0-3 start would be rough and deflating. So, this is a critical game.
Sept. 28 Chicago Bears, 1:25 p.m., CBS
No matter what the Raiders record is after the first three games, they need to close out the first quarter of the season right in another winnable game. Yes the Bears are supposed to be improved. But this is a team for the Raiders to take control at Allegiant Stadium and show they are different this season. They need to push into October strong with very winnable game against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans looming in the next two weeks,
Nov. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:05 p.m., FOX
This will be the Raiders’ eighth game and their first game after the bye. Beating the Jaguars at home after a bye has to be a victory. The Raiders can’t stumble in this opportunity in they want to be relevant in the second half of the season.
Nov. 30 at Los Angeles Chargers, 1:25 p.m., CBS
If the Raiders can win this game against a top division and conference contender, that should shoot them right into December feeling good about themselves. We know the Raider Nation shows up at SoFi Stadium. It’s time for the first time since fans have been attending games there.
Dec. 21 at Houston Texans, 1:25 p.m., CBS
This is the Raiders’ last road game and it’s against a team that may have playoff hopes as well. If Las Vegas can head home for the final two games after a victory, it could be in solid playoff shape.
Conclusion:
As you can tell, these aren’t necessarily games against the Raiders’ toughest opponents this season. They are mostly very winnable games at crucial moments of the season. They need to win these games to set up the rest of the schedule.