Raiders 2022 Schedule: Top-5 Must-Win games

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 09: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after hitting Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 09: Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrates after hitting Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Combine. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Raiders 2022 Schedule: Top-5 Must-Win games

Week 15: vs. New England Patriots

In the third must-win for the Raiders is another prime time game against the New England Patriots. This game should have potential playoff implications on the line. In addition, it is a student versus teacher matchup. Josh McDaniels and the Raiders will host his former boss, Bill Belichick. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Together McDaniels and Belichick helped guide the careers of Tom Brady and Mac Jones.

Hopefully, by the time of this game, McDaniels will benefit Derek Carr’s career for the better. This will be a good test for Carr to see if this McDaniels/Carr relationship will work out.

McDaniels should be able to design a game plan to outsmart Belichick and the Patriots’ defense which ranked fourth in total defense and second against the pass last season. If Carr and the rest of the Raiders’ offense can execute effectively, then they should be able to come out on top.

Also, the run game will be counted on in this game with Josh Jacobs, Kenyon Drake, and Zamir White as the Patriots had trouble stopping the run last year. Anticipate a big game from one of those three running backs.