This week, we here at the Last Word Pro Football will be analyzing the schedules of every team in the NFL and ranking each game in order of difficulty (with one being the most difficult). This series will be split up into the eight most difficult games (ranked 1-8) and the eight easiest games (ranked 9-16) for each team. In this article, the Oakland Raiders easiest games are the focus.
Oakland Raiders Easiest Games in 2017
16. Week Two, New York Jets
The New York Jets are going to be the worst team in the NFL in 2017, and as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, the Raiders shouldn’t struggle with them at all. It would be a miracle if the Jets won a single game this year, and if the Raiders happened to be the victim of that game, then they’re in serious trouble.
15.Week Sixteen, at Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a lot like the Oakland Raiders were two years ago. They’ve got a talented young quarterback in Carson Wentz, and they added some pieces like Alshon Jeffery this off-season to make the offense better. However, they’re just not there yet, and this should be an easy win for the Oakland Raiders.
14.Week Eight, at Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills aren’t a bad team. In fact, they gave the Raiders some serious trouble in a game last year. However, LeSean McCoy isn’t getting any younger, and he likely won’t be as good as he was last year. Tyrod Taylor is crushed against his ceiling, and poor Sammy Watkins just can’t stay healthy. The Raiders should be able to get a win here, even playing on the east coast.
13. Week Three, at Washington Redskins
For the first time since leaving the team and becoming a wide receiver, Terrelle Pryor will face off against his old team, the Oakland Raiders. Some would say there’s bitterness, but there shouldn’t be, considering the Raiders were the only ones that let him play quarterback. In any event, they’re completely medicore on paper, and Josh Norman can’t cover both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. A primetime win in the nation’s capital? You like that.
12. Week Nine, at Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a funny team. They made the playoffs last year, but just barely. And then they were humiliated by the Pittsburgh Steelers in a playoff game that was never close. Do Ryan Tannehill, Jay Ajayi, and Jarvis Landry make the leap and become a power trio in 2017 or do they remain in Tom Brady‘s basement?
11. Week 17, at Los Angeles Chargers
It’s the last game of the season, and believe it or not, both of these teams could be vying for playoff positioning. The Los Angeles Chargers have plenty of talent on that team. Philip Rivers, Melvin Gordon, Antonio Gates, Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, Joey Bosa, Jason Verrett.
10. Week 12, Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are just a quarterback away from being a really, really good team. Von Miller, Derek Wolfe, Chris Harris Jr. and Aqib Talib make that defense so good, and then you’ve got Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders on offense. The problem is they’re stuck with Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch! A tough game, but a winnable one for sure.
9. Week Four, at Denver Broncos
Everything that was just said about the home game, with a bunch of hoopla about altitude, John Elway‘s legacy, and that time Donald Penn claimed the Raiders ran the same play 12 times in a row, shoving Latavius Murray down their throat. Now imagine that, but with Marshawn Lynch instead. Goosebumps.
Now the fun isn’t over, be sure to head over and enjoy the article ranking our eight most difficult games this season.
