Published Wednesday, May 12, 2021 | 9:03 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, May 12, 2021 | 5:11 p.m.
The Las Vegas Raiders are determined to return to the postseason this year. Now they have a clearer picture available of what they’ll need to do to get there.
The Raiders’ full schedule, along with the other 31 NFL teams, was released this evening. As expected once the league formalized a plan to add a 17th regular-season game for the first time, Las Vegas will play nine times at Allegiant Stadium with only eight road trips.
Next year, the split will flip, as NFC teams will host AFC opponents in the extra game.
The Raiders will have a slight downturn in nationally televised games after an 8-8 season in their inaugural local campaign, but will be featured in primetime four times throughout the season. The first comes in Week 1, when Las Vegas hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 13.
The other home game in a showcase spot comes at 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 14 when the Raiders play the two-time defending AFC champion archrival Kansas City Chiefs.
On the road, the Raiders will be featured on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Week 4 at 5:15 p.m. on Oct. 4. The franchise will also play on Thanksgiving for the first time since 2013, getting the traditional afternoon slot with a trip to AT&T Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys.
Other highly anticipated home games include the Bears coming to town in Week 5 on Oct. 10 and the Dolphins making a quick return after last year’s wild late-season de facto elimination game in Week 3 on Sept. 26.
Las Vegas’ only back-to-back road games come in Week 14 and Week 15 when it plays at Kansas City and Cleveland, respectively.
Fans are widely expected back at NFL stadiums this season, and the Raiders have made it a priority to best their 2-6 home record from their first season in Las Vegas. It’s a priority if they want to reach their goal of winning a playoff game for the first time in 19 seasons.
Check back to lasvegassun.com later for more coverage of the Raiders’ 2021 schedule.
Read below for all of the currently-known dates. This is a developing story. Check back for more updates later.
Week 1 — vs. Baltimore Ravens, 5:15 p.m., Monday Sept. 13 (Monday Night Football)
Week 2 — at Pittsburgh Steelers, 10 a.m., Sunday Sept. 19
Week 3 — vs. Miami Dolphins, 1:05 p.m, Sunday Sept. 26
Week 4 — at Los Angeles Chargers, 5:15 p.m., Monday Oct. 4 (Monday Night Football)
Week 5 — vs. Chicago Bears, 1:05 p.m., Sunday Oct. 10
Week 6 — at Denver Broncos, 1:25 p.m., Sunday Oct. 17
Week 7 — vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 1:05 p.m., Sunday Oct. 24
Week 8 — Bye
Week 9 — at New York Giants, 10 a.m., Sunday November 7
Week 10 — vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 5:15p.m., Sunday Nov. 14 (Sunday Night Football)
Week 11 — vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:05 p.m., Sunday Nov. 21
Week 12 — at Dallas Cowboys, 1:30 p.m., Thursday November 25 (Thanksgiving Day game)
Week 13 — vs. Washington Football Team, 1:05 p.m., Sunday Dec. 5
Week 14 — at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m., Sunday Dec. 12
Week 15 — at Cleveland Browns, time TBD, Saturday Dec. 18 OR Sunday Dec. 19
Week 16 — vs. Denver Broncos, 1:25 p.m., Sunday Dec. 26
Week 17 — at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., Sunday Jan. 2
Week 18 — vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 1:25p.m., Sunday Jan. 9
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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