Toughest stretches on Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 schedule

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball and gets tackled by Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders during a game at Highmark Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) | Getty Images While we’ve known the Las Vegas Raiders’ opponents for next season for a while now, oftentimes, when they play certain clubs matters just as much as who they play. Having to face reigning playoff teams is a lot more difficult if the games are back-to-back versus being spread out throughout the season.

Now that we have the Raiders’ 2026 schedule , let’s take an early look at the toughest stretches on it and see where this young team will face its toughest battles and have a chance to prove itself. Weeks 5-7 Matchups: @ Patriots, vs. Bills, @ Rams This stretch can get even tougher if Patrick Mahomes is healthy and hits the ground running for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City comes to Las Vegas in Week 4, and the Raiders will have to play the up-and-coming New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers in the two games prior. That would mean the Silver and Black play four reigning playoff teams, a two-time MVP and the runner-up for last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in six of the first seven weeks of the season. But even if Mahomes is stumbling out of the gate, this will be a brutal three weeks for the Raiders.

The New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams were all in the NFL’s “elite eight”, if you will, last season. The Patriots are coming off an AFC Championship, while the Bills were an overtime loss away from meeting their division rival in the postseason, and the Rams posed the biggest threat to spoiling the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. Plus, two out of three matchups are on the road to give the young Raiders a tough test in October.