Raiders: 3 must-win games for Las Vegas in the upcoming season

Zeroing in on key moments in the Raiders’ ’22 schedule, and plucking the most likely “must-win” matchups.

The ’21 season was a magical year for the historic Raiders franchise. After a hot 5-2 start, Las Vegas soon found themselves 6-7, and from there, a 10-7 record to earn the 5th seed in the AFC. This final stretch of games paved the way for the Silver and Black to reach the postseason for the first time in five-years, marking the team’s second appearance since the ’02 season.

How were the Raiders of last year able to leap into the playoffs? It’s simple – They came out victorious in must-win battles.

No team endured more hardships than Las Vegas last season, but that didn’t stop the Nevada football team from taking care of business. Heading into the new year, they’ll be looking to duplicate that same focus and professionalism, in hopes to achieve back-to-back postseason appearances; A feat which the Raiders haven’t achieved for two-decades.

With that on the table, it only makes sense we get a head start in identifying the most likely must-win duels taking place this upcoming season.

We’ll be zeroing in on opportunistic moments in next year’s schedule, where it’s ideal to gain momentum. Although it’s impossible to truly call a game a “must-win” before the season kicks off, we can at least get an idea of which matchups stand out, and the reason(s) they do. That said, let’s dive in and discuss the three contests most likely to be must-win.