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          NFL Nation

          Las Vegas Raiders' schedule 2020: Viva Las Vegas means four home prime-time games

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterMay 7, 2020, 08:52 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          The Las Vegas Raiders' schedule for 2020 was released Thursday.

          The regular season kicks off with the Houston Texans hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, Sept. 10 (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). The opening doubleheader for Monday Night Football will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers at the New York Giants (7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the Tennessee Titans at the Denver Broncos (10:20 p.m. ET) on Monday, Sept. 14.

          Check out the full week-by-week schedule here. Here's what's in store for the Raiders:

          Game-by-game prediction

          Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez is predicting a 7-9 finish:

          Sept. 13: at Carolina, Win

          Sept. 21: vs. New Orleans, Loss

          Sept. 27: at New England, Loss

          Oct. 4: vs. Buffalo, Win

          Oct. 11: at Kansas City, Loss

          Oct. 25: vs. Tampa Bay, Loss

          Nov. 1: at Cleveland, Win

          Nov. 8: at L.A. Chargers, Loss

          Nov. 15: vs. Denver, Win

          Nov. 22: vs. Kansas City, Loss

          Nov. 29: at Atlanta, Loss

          Dec. 6: at N.Y. Jets, Loss

          Dec. 13: vs Indianapolis, Win

          Dec. 17: vs. L.A. Chargers, Win

          Dec. 26 or 27: vs. Miami, Win

          Jan. 3: at Denver, Loss

          Strength of schedule: .496, 21st

          Breakdown

          The Raiders have little, if anything, to complain about when it comes to this year's schedule. Especially in the wake of last year's unbelievably rough slate (after playing at home on Sept. 15, they did not see Oakland again until Nov. 3). Sure, the rebranded Las Vegas franchise has six kickoffs at 10 a.m. PT and a pair of two-game roadies in the middle of the season, but it also has three of its last four games in the comfort of its new, state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium. For the first time since 2015, the Raiders will not play host to an international game, though with consecutive games at Atlanta and the New York Jets in late November/early December, perhaps Las Vegas stays out east that week, as the Raiders did in 2016 and 2017 in Florida. And with four home prime-time games to show off the new digs, it's a schedule custom-made for a gambling team on the come.

          Live, from Sin City

          The Raiders' four prime-time games at home are a franchise record, and the star power that comes with the matchups are more than worthy for when Allegiant Stadium's lanai doors slide open to reveal the Strip in all its nighttime opulent glory. Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints for the first regular-season game in Las Vegas, and on Monday Night Football? Check. Tom "Tuck Rule" Brady, Gronk and the Buccaneers on a Sunday night before Halloween? Indeed. Patrick Mahomes and the reigning champion Chiefs on a Sunday night before Thanksgiving week? Say no more. The Chargers on a short week in mid-December? You miss Philip Rivers, don't ya?

          Cold weather, what cold weather?

          The Raiders in general, QB Derek Carr in particular, have struggled when the temperatures dip. Carr is 0 for his last 10 in games where the temperature was 50 degrees or below at kickoff, per Associated Press. So, seeing only roadies at the New York Jets on Dec. 6 and at Denver on Jan. 3 in the last five games of the season has to warm the cockles of Raider Nation's heart. Also, it is the first time in seven years the Raiders will not play a regular-season game in Kansas City in December or later -- though it will be the seventh straight year in which the Raiders close the season on the road.