The NFL unveiled the schedule for the 2024 season on Wednesday night, and it presents the Las Vegas Raiders with a challenging schedule. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a successful season in Las Vegas in 2023, even though the Silver and Black are hoping to recover from another season without making the playoffs.
First off, with the addition of Christian Wilkins to an already formidable front seven in Las Vegas, the Raiders defense may rank among the best in the league the following season. Wilkins, who filled a significant hole on the Raiders roster for the upcoming season, was the best defensive lineman available on the free agency market this summer.
As for the offense, all eyes will be on quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who impressed last year as a rookie by performing well in the final moments for Las Vegas. The Raiders offense has enough tools to score with anybody if he can continue to build on his late-season success and the team can find a way to compensate for Josh Jacobs’ departure.
When the Raiders go to face two teams who should be favorites to make the playoffs in 2024, we will know early in the NFL season of 2024 where they stand in the AFC.
The season’s opening contest is a “road” game against the Los Angeles Chargers, however Silver and Black supporters typically pack the SoFi stadium. O’Connell and the Raiders crushed the Chargers late in the previous year, scoring 63 points, but this team should be much better under new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The Raiders have a difficult early-season schedule, but if they can pull off a victory in both games or even just avoid losing the first two, it will really set them apart. Under head coach Antonio Pierce, the Raiders will undoubtedly play with a lot of enthusiasm, which should help them pull off some shocks early in the 2024 season.
