Raiders Have Everything Needed To End Season With Convincing Win
The Las Vegas Raiders' 2026 schedule is a mix of reachable wins and tough matchups against teams looking to make a deep playoff run. On top of playing both teams represented in the Super Bowl last season, they also play against some of the top contenders in both the AFC and NFC.
This is on top of them having to play their fellow AFC West teams, who are all looking to improve one way or another next season. Even if the Raiders have improved, their record may not reflect that because of the difficulty of their opponents. That's why they have to make the most whenever they're matched up against a team of similar talent level.
Ending the Season Off With Confidence
The Raiders' first game of the new calendar year will be on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, in what should be a lopsided Week 17 game. The Cardinals are in serious contention for the number one overall pick next season, and it's hard for them to walk into any matchup with an advantage.
At this point in the season, it's hard to predict what team records will look like or how they'll be performing, but I'm writing under the assumption that the Cardinals will be one of the worst teams in the NFL by then. This gives the Silver and Black a strong chance to kick off the new year with a huge win and a confidence boost.
Chance for a Start
It's hard to say who will be the starting quarterback for the Raiders at this point in the season, but regardless of a winning record or not, the Raiders should think about giving Fernando Mendoza some burn here.
The Cardinals do have a secondary loaded with young weapons, but they're still a few years away from being a scary unit top to bottom. That's the perfect training ground for a future franchise player who, again, I don't know would have had starting experience at this point in the season.
If the Raiders are sticking with Kirk Cousins, Klint Kubiak swept the Cardinals last season with the Seattle Seahawks.
One of those victories was by three points, and the other was by 20. The Cardinals have a chance to make this game competitive if the Raiders give Mendoza a shot, but I'm confident their starting unit can take care of business on the road.
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/raiders/onsi as Raiders Have Everything Needed To End Season With Convincing Win.
Copyright ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 9:00 AM.