Way-too-early record prediction

Going game-by-game through the 2025 schedule

With a new regime led by head coach Pete Carroll and a new quarterback in Geno Smith, there’s plenty of optimism heading into the 2025 NFL season for the Las Vegas Raiders. Now that we know the Raiders’ 2025 schedule, let’s go game-by-game and make a way-too-early record prediction.

Week 1 @ Patriots

Las Vegas kicks off the campaign with a battle between two teams coming off 4-13 performances and who have new head coaches. Mike Vrabel and New England are currently favored to win by 1.5 points, but Carroll and the Raiders should be able to pull off the road upset against a young team at the beginning of the season.

Prediction: Raiders win (1-0)

Week 2 vs. Chargers (MNF)

The Silver and Black should have plenty of momentum heading into this one since it’s the home opener and on primetime. However, Los Angeles has an impressive roster and is expected to be a contender in the AFC this year, while the Raiders have a lot of new pieces that will take some time to gel together. So, Jim Harbaugh gets a win against his long-time rival, Carroll.

Prediction: Raiders lose (1-1)

Week 3 @ Commanders

Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are coming off an impressive season where they made the NFC Championship game. The front office was also aggressive this offseason to build around Daniels, trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. That makes this another tough one for the Raiders, especially since it’s a road contest.

Prediction: Raiders lose (1-2)

Week 4 vs. Chicago Bears

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Call this one the ‘Ben Johnson Bowl’! The Raiders were rumored to be in the mix to hire Johnson as head coach, but lost the sweepstakes to the Bears. Chicago should be much better this year as Caleb Williams enters his second year, but that might take a while, and Las Vegas should be able to take advantage of the early-season matchup.

Prediction: Raiders win (2-2)

Week 5 @ Colts

It will be interesting to see who’s starting at quarterback in Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones. But neither is a good option, and it feels like this is the year where things start to fall apart for the Colts and head coach Shane Steichen, giving the Raiders a chance to win back-to-back games.

Prediction: Raiders win (3-2)

Week 6 vs. Titans

Could the Silver and Black get hot and go on a run heading into a matchup with their biggest rivals and the bye week? Facing off against the rebuilding Titans certainly helps. I’m high on Cam Ward’s potential, but it will likely take him a bit to adjust to the NFL, especially with the supporting cast in Tennessee.

Prediction: Raiders win (4-2)

Week 7 @ Chiefs

I do think the Chiefs are starting to come back down to earth and are in for a down season in 2025, in comparison to the high standards they’ve set over the last decade. However, the nine-time defending AFC West Champs are still the nine-time defending AFC West Champs until someone knocks them off. At this stage, it’s tough to see the Raiders stealing one on the road in Kansas City.

Prediction: Raiders lose (4-3)

Week 9 vs. Jaguars

Similar to Week 1, this is an interesting matchup where both teams will be ushering in new head coaches, Liam Coen for the Jags, in addition to bouncing back from 4-13 campaigns a year ago. Also, each club will have an extra week to prepare since both will be coming off a bye. This could be a tight one, but the nod goes to the home team.

Prediction: Raiders win (5-3)

Week 10 @ Broncos (TNF)

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

Divisional matchups on a short week are always tough and typically favor the club that doesn’t have to travel. Plus, Denver is coming off an impressive campaign, led by quarterback Bo Nix and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. That makes it hard to see Las Vegas pulling this one out on the road.

Prediction: Raiders lose (5-4)

Week 11 vs. Cowboys (MNF)

It’s hard to know what to expect from the Cowboys this season. They finished last year 7-10, but that was largely due to injuries, suggesting Dallas should be better with a healthy Dak Prescott and Co. However, Jerry Jones didn’t do much to improve the rest of the roster this offseason. So, I’ll give the Raiders the benefit of the doubt here with a primetime home win.

Prediction: Raiders win (6-4)

Week 12 vs. Browns

There’s no other way to put it, the Browns are a dysfunctional mess. They currently have a five-man competition to be the starting quarterback, and the rest of the offense doesn’t inspire much hope. I’m expecting Cleveland to be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick this season.

Prediction: Raiders win (7-4)

Week 13 @ Chargers

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images

It pains me to say this, but I think the Chargers will be pretty good this year. The Raiders should at least give them a game, but it’s hard for me to see them splitting this series. I hope I’m wrong, though.

Prediction: Raiders lose (7-5)

Week 14 vs. Broncos

Denver is another AFC West team that’s on the rise, but I don’t think its roster is that much better than Las Vegas’ for the Broncos to sweep the series in back-to-back seasons. I’ll take the home teams in both 2025 contests.

Prediction: Raiders win (8-5)

Week 15 @ Eagles

The second half of the season will be a gauntlet for the Silver and Black with six games against reigning playoff teams, including the defending Super Bowl Champs. The Eagles’ defense might regress this season as it lost several key players from last year, but Philly’s offense should have more than enough firepower. This is a tough road draw for the Raiders.

Prediction: Raiders lose (8-6)

Week 16 @ Texans

The schedule makers didn’t do Las Vegas any favors with back-to-back away matchups against reigning playoff teams in December. The Raiders’ pass-rush against the Texans’ weak offensive line could lead to a potential upset, but Houston has a strong defense to be a contender again this season and pull this one out at home.

Prediction: Raiders lose (8-7)

Week 17 vs. Giants

This will likely be a “must-win” for Las Vegas to keep its playoff hopes alive. I think New York has a decent roster overall, but the team has a big question mark at the most important position on the field, keeping them from being considered a contender at this stage. First-round pick Jaxson Dart could be under center at this point in the season, but the Silver and Black should be able to win this one at home.

Prediction: Raiders win (9-7)

Week 18 vs. Chiefs

It will be interesting to see what’s on the line for each club in this matchup. As mentioned above, the Chiefs are in for some regression this season and likely will have something to play for during the final week of the regular season. With that, I have a tough time giving the Raiders the nod over a team that has gone to the Super Bowl three times in a row.

Prediction: Raiders lose (9-8)

Final Record: 9-8

This would likely mean the Raiders are playoff contenders throughout the 2025 season, and doubling (plus one) their win total from a year ago would be nothing to scoff at, especially during Carroll’s first season.

However, heading into the final four weeks three games above .500 but finishing with just one more win than loss, and missing the tournament again, would certainly be disappointing. Not to mention going 1-5 in the division. Unfortunately, the AFC West projects to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, again, and the final stretch of Las Vegas’ schedule is brutal.