The NFL likes to release their schedule in bits and pieces these days, just to keep fans interested. Back in late February, they revealed which teams would be the home teams for their five international games — three in London, one in Mexico, and one in Germany.
With that reveal, we knew the Raiders would not be playing in Mexico or Germany because they didn’t have a road game against the Cardinals or Buccaneers. But London was still a possibility.
In fact, there are two of the Raiders’ road opponents who play host in London — the Saints at Tottenham Hotspur and the Jaguars at Wembley.
Well, today the NFL announced who the Saints and Jaguars would be facing in those games, and it isn’t the Raiders.
London Calling!
The NFL is heading back to London for three games in 2022! @NFLUK pic.twitter.com/dB0zRjtePN
— NFL (@NFL) May 4, 2022
The Saints will face off against the Vikings, while the Jaguars will face the Broncos.
And therefore, the Raiders officially have no international games this season.
Prior to the team’s move from Oakland to Las Vegas, they had five international games in a six-year span — three in London and two in Mexico City. In every case, they were the “home” team.
While being in a new stadium, and having sent so many home games out of the country in recent years, may preclude them from hosting an international game anytime soon, it doesn’t take them off the table to be the visiting team.
And we are entering the third straight season without the Raiders playing an international game, so at some point, they will be due again.