Looking at the best storylines on the 2025 schedule heading into the season.
Now that the 2025 NFL Schedule is out, there’s even more excitement surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders’ upcoming season. Not only do we know when and where the Raiders are playing, but we also know how many primetime matchups the team will have. While each game has a storyline, some stand out more than most.
Below are Las Vegas’ most intriguing games heading into the campaign, listed in no particular order.
Week 2 vs. Chargers (MNF)
Between this being the home-opener, a divisional matchup and on Monday Night Football, there are plenty of reasons to get excited about this early-season contest against the Chargers. Adding to that, both head coaches have a long history with each other, going back to their days as college coaches.
The rivalry between Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh runs so deep that it began during the 2007 campaign in a conference that doesn’t exist anymore, the Pac-10, when Carroll led the USC Trojans and Jim Harbaugh was the head man for the Stanford Cardinal. Then, the battles between the two moved to the pros, where they squared off in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.
However, the rivalry has been dormant for the last decade, with Harbaugh returning to the college ranks at Michigan and Carroll taking last season off. That changes on primetime in Week 2 as the coaches square off for another battle.
Week 15 @ Eagles
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If the Raiders are playoff contenders this season, a late-season road matchup against the defending Champs will be a good litmus test to see how ready they are for the postseason. This will likely be a tough matchup for the Silver and Black, but it will also be an opportunity to prove themselves and send a message to the rest of the league.
Week 10 @ Broncos (TNF)
On a similar note, this matchup in Denver sets up to be a turning point in Las Vegas’ season. It’s in the middle of the schedule against a division rival that figures to be in the playoff mix after making the tournament last year. Also, it’s another primetime matchup against the Broncos, which usually results in some fireworks, and the Raiders will have to overcome playing a road game on a short week.
Week 11 vs. Cowboys (MNF)
To no surprise, all three of the Silver and Black’s primetime contests are featured here. While the Raiders and Cowboys don’t face each other often, they typically make for some exciting and drama-filled games. Surely everyone remembers the infamous index card game in 2017, and the 2021 matchup was a 36-33 overtime thriller on Thanksgiving.
That’s just the last two contests, as the organizations have played each other in the regular season 13 times since 1974. The Raiders lead the all-time series 7-6, and 11 of the 13 games have been decided by one possession, per StatMuse.
Week 18 vs. Chiefs
Another AFC West matchup, as all three divisional opponents are listed here. The reason this game was chosen over the Week 7 contest in Kansas City is that it wouldn’t be surprising if both clubs have something to play for. The Chiefs’ reign of dominance over the rest of the conference feels like it’s coming to a close.
They went 11-0 in one-score games during the regular season and beat the Bills by a possession in the playoffs to go to the Super Bowl. Typically, that isn’t sustainable season-to-season, and Kansas City’s offense showed plenty of signs of slowing down in 2024. Meanwhile, the rest of the division and the AFC are on the rise, including the Raiders, so there could be a lot on the line during the final regular-season game.