I laid all my current season win-loss projections, strength/weakness of teams, weather notes about the schedule, the history of in-conference games, teams/coaches coming off BYE weeks and solo night games, and estimated travel between games, etc., and dumped that all in my AI Frankenstein writer creation ‘AI-McGillidcuddy1’ and then asked him to give an NFL analyst take on each team’s schedule, using my data (not the NFLs), and using his created personality to do it.
I’m doing team-by-team each day of June, except two will post day one...and the strength of schedule rankings will rank one-at-a-time on RC Note’s every morning as well. ARI and ATL gets us started June 1st.
Here is unedited AI analysis of my schedule data from AI-McGillidcuddy1. Enjoy...
(by AI_McGillicuddy1)
Final Weighted Number
When you plot the actual geography and chronological sequence of this real-world calendar, that 52.9% baseline confirms that Las Vegas has been handed an absolute meat-grinder of a schedule. Our system views this Raiders squad as a developing, middle-of-the-pack roster fighting to find its structural footing. When a transitioning team gets hit with a schedule this heavily front-loaded with elite passing attacks and premier trench units, it creates an incredibly high-hazard environment. If they don't operate at peak execution from the opening kickoff, this calendar threatens to shatter their season before they ever reach their late-December bye week.
Phase 1: Weeks 1–6
The opening six weeks are a relentless firing squad of high-caliber football teams that will test this squad's physical identity immediately. They open at home against Miami and then go right into a brutal road test at the powerhouse Chargers, travel to the hostile environment of the New Orleans dome, and return home to face Kansas City. They follow that up by traveling to Foxborough to face a highly physical New England defense before hosting Buffalo.
This front-loaded block demands flawless operational execution. Facing four projected double-digit win teams (the Chargers, Patriots, Bills, and Saints) in the first month and a half leaves absolutely zero margin for error. Because early-season momentum carries a 3x weight in our team evaluation framework, dropping a string of these heavy matchups early on will bury this roster in a deep psychological and division hole before the autumn air even turns cold.
Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Sept. 13 at 4:25 PM EDT
Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) — Dome Game, Sunday, Sept. 20 at 4:05 PM EDT
Week 3: at New New Orleans Saints, Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA) — Dome Game, Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 PM EDT
Week 4: vs. Kansas City Chiefs, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Oct. 4 at 4:25 PM EDT
Week 5: at New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA), Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:00 PM EDT
Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Oct. 18 at 4:25 PM EDT
Phase 2: Weeks 7–13
Clearing the opening gauntlet offers almost no structural relief, as the middle stretch forces this roster to run a grueling cross-country marathon. They host the premier, high-flying offense of the Rams in Week 7, travel to the Meadowlands to face the Jets, hit a massive road test against San Francisco's elite front-seven, and host Seattle. They follow that up with a highly physical division road battle at Denver and an outdoor trip to Cleveland before finally sliding into a desperately late Week 13 bye week.
According to our internal opponent quality data, this is the stretch that will break this team's back most likely. Trying to survive all the way to December before getting a rest week is a massive physical strain. While games against the Jets and Browns represent real operational opportunities to bank stackable wins, navigating those spots right alongside heavyweight fights against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks will drain every ounce of tactical reserve this roster has left.
Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:25 PM EDT
Week 8: at New York Jets, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ), Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 PM EST
Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers, Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA), Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4:25 PM EST
Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Nov. 15 at 4:25 PM EST
Week 11: at Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High (Denver, CO), Sunday, Nov. 22 at 4:25 PM EST
Week 12: at Cleveland Browns, Huntington Bank Field (Cleveland, OH) — Winter Outdoor Game, Sunday, Nov. 29 at 1:00 PM EST
Week 13: BYE WEEK — No Game, No Venue, No Time
Phase 3: Weeks 14–18
Coming out of their late Week 13 break, the final block of the regular season is an intense, division-locked winter sprint. They host the Chargers, host Denver, welcome Tennessee to town for their home finale, travel to the State Farm Stadium dome to face Arizona, and finish the regular season on the road in the freezing cold against Kansas City.
Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4:05 PM EST
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Dec. 20 at 4:25 PM EST
Week 16: vs. Tennessee Titans, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, NV) — Dome Game, Sunday, Dec. 27 at 1:00 PM EST
Week 17: at Arizona Cardinals, State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ) — Dome Game, Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4:05 PM EST
Week 18: at Kansas City Chiefs, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO) — Winter Outdoor Season Finale, Sunday, Jan. 10 (Time TBD)
Weather Factoids, Travel Logistics & Dome Tallies
Let’s look at the operational environments, because the climate layout is incredibly unique and heavily skewed for their scheduling routine. The Raiders play a total of 11 dome/controlled-roof games across the 2026 season:
- Week 1 vs. Miami (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 2 at Los Angeles Chargers (SoFi Stadium)
- Week 3 at New Orleans (Caesars Superdome)
- Week 4 vs. Kansas City (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 6 vs. Buffalo (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 7 vs. Los Angeles Rams (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 10 vs. Seattle (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 14 vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 15 vs. Denver (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 16 vs. Tennessee (Allegiant Stadium)
- Week 17 at Arizona (State Farm Stadium)
.
Spending 11 out of 17 regular-season dates completely insulated from the wind, rain, and elements is an absolute dream scenario for their offensive timing and kicking unit.
Logistically, the domestic travel routine is intense but reasonably well-balanced. The schedule-makers handled their airline miles with solid care, completely avoiding any grueling 3+ game road trips or 3+ game homestands all year. They alternate cleanly between home comfort and away weeks to keep the players in a stable weekly routine.
As for late-season winter weather? While they enjoy perfect, weather-proof luxury at home inside Allegiant Stadium, they are heavily exposed to the deep freeze when traveling late in the year. Following their trip to the West Coast in mid-autumn, they face a freezing outdoor assignment in Week 12 at Cleveland, followed by a potentially snowy, element-heavy regular-season finale in January at Arrowhead Stadium. For an offense looking to stay efficient, navigating those late-season road elements stands as a massive operational factoid to watch. It is an incredibly demanding, top-heavy layout.
======================
