The AFC West hopes to live up to what was promised last year, but can the Las Vegas Raiders hold up their end of the bargain, or are there too many pitfalls on their 2023 schedule? With a new QB at the helm, can this version of the Raiders help get them back into the playoffs for only the third time since 2002?
Las Vegas Raiders Schedule and Opponents
While we won’t find out the Raiders’ schedule for 2023 until the NFL schedule release, which could be delayed, we already know their opponents for the upcoming season.
Home Games
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Jets
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
Away Games
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Chicago Bears
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Detroit Lions
- Indianapolis Colts
As always, the Raiders will face their division opponents both at home and on the road. As part of the rotational schedule, Las Vegas and the AFC West will take on the entirety of the NFC North and AFC East.
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The remaining three games on their schedule will come against NFL teams that finished third in their respective divisions (Steelers and Giants), as well as their “17th-game crossover” against the Indianapolis Colts on the road, who also finished third in the AFC South in 2022.
Raiders Strength of Schedule
The Raiders — and the AFC West, in general — have a rather difficult schedule in 2023 which did not get any easier after a fresh batch of rookie talent was injected into these rosters. Based on projected win totals, Las Vegas has the fourth-hardest strength of schedule in the NFL.
Vegas’ respective opponents combined to go 150-136-2 for a .524 record. Of the four AFC West teams, Los Angeles has the sixth hardest, Denver is 11th, and Kansas City holds the third-toughest schedule in the league in 2023.
Raiders Record Prediction
While the goal may be the same, Las Vegas is coming at it with a different approach in 2023. The most notable change is the absence of Derek Carr, who went through a rather public split with the team. In his place steps Jimmy Garoppolo, who is noted as being a proven winner in the NFL. But was that Garoppolo or the 49ers simply being that good overall?
While Davante Adams remains in town, there was a change with the pass catchers, with Jakobi Meyers signing during free agency, although it remains to be seen whether they can offset Darren Waller’s loss.
Did they do enough to win close games? Twelve of Las Vegas’ games last season were decided by one score or less, including nine of their 11 losses. Is that the Raiders being unlucky, or do good teams find ways to win while mediocre teams find ways to lose?
This may be where Garoppolo can change things for Vegas, but to many, Jimmy G was a lateral move at QB, but that is not a guarantee. It’s far easier to get worse at quarterback than it is to get better. If we assume Russell Wilson looks more like himself in 2023, Las Vegas is firmly still in fourth in the AFC West QB pecking order.
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I don’t see this as a playoff team. Las Vegas is, at best, the third-best team in the division but realistically fourth, even with the additions of Michael Mayer and No. 7 pick Tyree Wilson. I don’t see them earning a Wild Card spot over the likes of the Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Browns, Chargers, Steelers, and whoever loses between Jacksonville and Tennessee. They all got better, whereas Las Vegas is far more of a wild card.
2023 is likely more of the same, with Las Vegas ending their season with a record around 7-10 or 6-11. They might be able to squeak a home win against Los Angeles or Denver, but I don’t see much more than a 2-4 divisional record ahead of them.
Even what should be winnable games on their schedule, such as Indianapolis or Green Bay, will likely be more competitive than they would prefer, especially if they happen later in the season, which gives time for both Anthony Richardson and Jordan Love to find their rhythm. It could be a long year for the Black and Silver, but one that could earn them a top-five pick in 2024. At least there is a silver lining.
