The NFL is slated to have 17 games this upcoming season, and the Las Vegas Raiders would welcome an old friend to Allegiant Stadium.
On Sunday, news began to come down that a long-awaited rumor was close to becoming a reality, as Adam Schefter from ESPN tweeted out about the league’s likely move forward with a 17th regular-season game. The ramifications of an extra game go a long way, especially when it comes to the record books, but most fans would welcome another chance to see their team play next season.
For the Raiders, based on the formula, they would in fact play another home game, this time against the Chicago Bears. That means the team will welcome into Allegiant Stadium one of their greatest draft picks and players in recent memory in Khalil Mack.
Of course, Raider Nation would rather Mack play all his home games inside Allegiant Stadium, as he is still one of the best players in the game. Last season, Mack helped the Bears to the playoffs despite a terrible offense, earning another Pro Bowl nod by racking up nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and even a safety.
Raiders would welcome old friend to Allegiant
Since trading away Mack, the Raiders have had a non-existent pass rush, musting up only 21 as a team this past season. In 2018, Mack’s first year away from the franchise, the then-Oakland Raiders had 13 sacks in 16 regular-season games, while he had 12.5 in 14 games.
Get the picture.
There are still a ton of members of Raider Nation that love Mack, and you can be sure that if the 17th game does in fact come to light, he will be shown a lot of love by the fan base. The Raiders have faced Mack only one time since trading him away, a 24-21 victory over the Bears in London, but playing him at home will bring on a whole new feeling.