Last season the Raiders had two games in primetime. They had three the season before. Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time (8 p.m. ET) the 2020 NFL schedule is set to be released at which point we will find out the games that will be played on the biggest stage. These are the five games that would appear to have the highest likelihood of landing on the biggest stage — Primetime.
1. First game at Allegiant Stadium
Two seasons in a row the Raiders have opened the season on Monday Night Football. And if they open the season at home in their new stadium, you can bet it will be their third in a row.
It doesn’t matter who they play in that game, it will be all about the NFL’s new trophy stadium in their newest city in Las Vegas. There will even be a few out-of-division games they could have there including the Saints (Drew Brees), Dolphins (Tua Tagovailoa), and Colts (Philip Rivers).
2. Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Picture it; Jon Gruden facing his former team. At signal-caller is Tom Brady whose fumble in the Divisional Round of the 2001 playoffs was overturned by the “Tuck rule” and the Patriots would hold on for the win in what would prove to be Gruden’s last game of his first tenure as Raiders head coach. Yeah, that game has prime time written all over it.
3. vs Denver Broncos (Home or Away)
It doesn’t matter whether they are playing in Oakland or in Denver, they’re gonna want to get one of those games in prime time. They usually do with this bitter rivalry.
This year both teams went all in at the wide receiver positions in the draft. The Raiders got Henry Ruggs III at No. 12 and Bryan Edwards in the third round at pick No. 81. The Broncos bulked up their receiving corps getting Ruggs’s teammate Jerry Jeudy at No. 15 and K.J. Hamler at No. 46. Now both teams appear to have a full arsenal of receiving targets.
4. At Los Angeles Chargers
Allegiant Stadium isn’t the only new NFL jewel that will be opening this season. The NFL will also want to show off the new SoFi Stadium venue in Inglewood where the Rams and Chargers will call home.
With one of their eight home games being played against the rival Raiders, the odds go up that the Raiders will be the opponent in that primetime game. The Chargers also have a new quarterback in Justin Herbert, who the team selected at No. 6.
5. At Kansas City Chiefs
The reigning Super Bowl champs will likely have quite a few primetime games this season. Between 2014 and 2017, the Raiders and Chiefs were featured on Thursday Night Football three times. They haven’t met in primetime since. Couple that with the fact that the Raiders haven’t beaten the Chiefs at Arrowhead in seven years and that raises the stakes to prime time levels.
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