What is the toughest stretch of games on Raiders’ 2018 schedule?

It’s time to unsubscribe to all the conspiracy theories about the Oakland Raiders’ schedule. In 2018, they have the third easiest schedule in the NFL, based on their opponents’ 2017 record. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any tough parts to it. Starting right from the season opener.

Opening day has the 2017 NFC West Champion Los Angeles Rams coming to Oakland. Then in Week 2, they go to the Denver Broncos, who went 5-11, traded cornerback Aqib Talib and now have Case Keenum at quarterback. Then the Raiders head to the East Coast to face the Miami Dolphins.

In Week 5, the Raiders go to the Los Angeles Chargers, who swept the Raiders last season and finished 9-7 making them threats to win the AFC West. In Week 6, they head to London to face the Seattle Seahawks who just missed the playoffs last season at 9-7. After the bye in Week 7, the Raiders will host the Indianapolis Colts, who were 4-12 but figure to get Andrew Luck back and the San Francisco 49ers, who were 6-10, finishing the season on a 5-game winning streak.

In Week 10, it’s the Chargers again, this time in the Black Hole. In Week 11, they go to the Arizona Cardinals, who went 8-8 in 2017, and now have QB Sam Bradford with star running back David Johnson returning. From there, the Raiders travel to the Baltimore Ravens, who barely missed the playoffs at 9-7, to return home to play the defending AFC West champion Kansas City Chiefs. They will then close the tough, 5-game stretch against the 2017 AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in Oakland on Sunday Night Football

The Raiders will then go to the Cincinnati Bengals (7-9) in week 15, host the Broncos in week 16 and close the season tough against the Chiefs at Arrowhead where they haven’t won since 2012.

Playing the Chargers, Cardinals, Ravens, Chiefs and Steelers in a row will be a good test. I believe we’ll know what the 2018 Raiders are by how they come out of that stretch.