Predicting the Las Vegas Raiders 2021 season game-by-game

Jan 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ben Roethlisberger. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Roethlisberger. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Predicting the Las Vegas Raiders 2021 season game-by-game

Week 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2021 schedule does not start out kindly for the Raiders, as they not only take on a formidable opponent in Week 1 in the Baltimore Ravens but then have to go East on a short week to take on another AFC North foe. That foe is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have done a nice job adding weapons around Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, and should once again be in the mix for a playoff spot this upcoming season.

This is not to say that the Raiders do not have the talent to beat the Steelers, and maybe if they had them at home, or even on regular rest, they could do just that. The problem is, they are playing a hard-hitting defense in Week 1, and I do not know if they will be healthy enough to go East and win this early in the season.

Not to mention that this is a pretty new roster of players that are gelling on the defensive side of the ball, and that could make life easy for Big Ben. Overall, the Raiders keep this one close, but in the end, they get out to the dreaded 0-2 start to kick off the 2021 slate.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Raiders 17