Oakland Raiders 2013 Schedule: Win-Loss Predictions for Every Game

The Oakland Raiders may be going through a complete rebuild, but they head into the 2013 NFL season still looking to win.

Their schedule has some extremely difficult matchups, but also some very winnable games as well.

If the Raiders can win the games they should, while coming away with an upset or two along the way, their final record will surprise a lot of people around the league.

Here is a look at the Oakland Raiders’ 2013 schedule, with predictions for every game.

Week 1: @ Indianapolis

Week 2: vs. Jacksonville

Week 3: @ Denver (MNF)

Week 4: vs. Washington

Week 5: vs. San Diego

Week 6: @ Kansas City

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia

Week 10: @ New York Giants

Week 11: @ Houston

Week 12: vs. Tennessee

Week 13: @ Dallas (Thanksgiving)

Week 14: @ New York Jets

Week 15: vs. Kansas City

Week 16: @ San Diego

Week 17: vs. Denver

Week 1: @ Indianapolis

The Raiders’ season does not exactly start off easy, as they head on the road to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.

The new-look silver and black defense will be tested early and often against one of the league’s best young passers in Andrew Luck. 

Although steadily improving, the Colts’ defense may give Indy problems again this year and could allow for the Raiders to make this a much closer game than many will predict.

Either way, the Raiders will have a big job ahead of them shutting down what is an impressive Colts offense with Luck at the helm. 

Prediction: Colts 27 – Raiders 20

Week 2: Vs. Jacksonville

For the second straight year, the Raiders host the Jacksonville Jaguars early on in the season.

This Jaguars team now has some intriguing players on both sides of the ball and looks to be headed in the right direction as they rebuild their franchise.

However, at least for now, much of their success will depend on the play of quarterback Blaine Gabbert. If he cannot take the next step, it will likely be another season that results in a top-five draft selection.

As such, the Raiders will have a great opportunity to get an early win in what could be a fairly low-scoring game.

Prediction: Raiders 17 – Jaguars 13

Week 3: @ Denver (MNF)

At this point, there are plenty of variables for the Raiders’ Week 3 matchup in Denver against the Broncos.

Von Miller’s suspension, which would see him miss the first four games of the season, is currently under appeal, and other Broncos key players like Champ Bailey and Wes Welker have injuries that could force them to miss time early on.

Should a few, or all of these players miss the Monday night matchup against the Raiders, the outcome of the game could be impacted significantly.

Having said that, the Broncos always have an advantage with Peyton Manning at the helm, and this isn’t a game they are likely to lose. 

Prediction: Broncos 34 – Raiders 20

Week 4: Vs. Washington

The Raiders’ run defense will see its biggest test in Week 4, as they host Robert Griffin III, Alfred Morris and the Washington Redskins. 

Given some key player personnel additions, it is assumed that the Raiders have made significant strides in this area, but the Redskins proved to have one of the more dominant running games in the NFL last season. 

The Raiders’ offense could also have some trouble against what is an underrated Redskins’ defensive unit that sees several key players returning from injuries of last season. 

With another loss here, the Raiders would go to 1-3 through four games. 

Prediction: Redskins 31 – Raiders 21

Week 5: Vs. San Diego

In Week 5, the Raiders host a San Diego team that could struggle throughout the 2013 season.

The Chargers’ running game has been extremely inconsistent in recent years, and their passing attack has already taken a significant hit, losing wide receivers Malcolm Floyd and Danario Alexander for the year due to injury. 

Although the Raiders have plenty of questions themselves, they match up well against this Chargers team and should be able to get their second win of the season.

Prediction: Raiders 23 – Chargers 17

Week 6: @ Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs are one of the more intriguing teams in the AFC and they will likely be picked by many to contend for a playoff spot. 

Then again, they were supposed to make the same leap last year, but ended up selecting first overall in April’s draft.

While the Chiefs will be improved, the Raiders’ offense should be able to establish a running game and move the ball efficiently.

If the Raiders keep Jamaal Charles from having a big game, they get their seventh straight win at Arrowhead. 

Prediction: Raiders 26 - Chiefs 20

Week 8: Vs. Pittsburgh

For the second straight year, the Raiders draw a home field matchup with the Steelers.

The Steelers have lost some key players on both sides of the ball, but like every year, we can expect them to be in playoff contention come December.

This should be a relatively low scoring game, as both defenses have favorable matchups against the opposing offense.

Having said that, the problems that the Steelers’ defensive front will give the Raiders’ offense in both the running and passing game should give them the edge. 

Prediction: Steelers 17 – Raiders 10

Week 9: Vs. Philadelphia

Much has been made of the new-look Eagles offense with Chip Kelly taking over as the head coach in Philadelphia.

While the up-tempo style will be fun to watch, especially given the athletic ability of their skill position players, it is their defensive shortcomings that will allow the Raiders to make a game of this. 

Provided the Raiders’ offensive line comes together better than we have seen thus far in the preseason, Darren McFadden should be able to get the running game going against this Eagles defense. 

Every team has at least one upset victory somewhere in a given season, and the Raiders get one here at home. 

Prediction: Raiders 30 – Eagles 27

Week 10: @ New York Giants

The Giants are always a tough team to predict, but they’ll continue to be a playoff contender for the foreseeable future. 

This poses as a tough matchup for the Raiders because, much like the Steelers game, the Giants’ defensive front should give the Raiders’ offense trouble throughout the game.

When healthy, the receiving duo of Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks has proven to be one of the best in the game, teaming with quarterback Eli Manning to consistently beat even the best of defenses. 

A long east coast trip to play a proven playoff-caliber team could make for a tough week for the Raiders. 

Prediction: Giants 37 – Raiders 17

Week 11: @ Houston

The Raiders have not played the Texans since the 2011 season when they came away with a 25-20 victory in Houston. 

Now, the difference in this matchup is that the Texans are a Super Bowl contender. 

This could be the Raiders’ second ugly game in a row, and especially so if the offensive line issues are not solved before going up against the likes of J.J. Watt. 

Prediction: Texans 24 – Raiders 6

Week 12: Vs. Tennessee

After two straight tough games on the road, the Raiders return home to a much more favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans. 

The Titans will be in for a tough year and could struggle on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, they will go as far as young quarterback Jake Locker will take them, but he has yet to live up to his first-round draft selection.

Here, the Raiders should rebound on both sides of the ball, and come away with their fifth win of the season.

Prediction: Raiders 24 – Titans 20

Week 13: @ Dallas (Thanksgiving)

The Raiders’ second prime time game of the year comes on Thanksgiving afternoon in Dallas.

The Cowboys, as usual, are tough to predict. While they consistently put together talented rosters, they seem to underachieve on a yearly basis.

This year, the offensive line will once again be their weakness, but the Raiders may not be the team to take advantage of that. 

Although the Raiders should be able to get enough of a running game going to keep it relatively close, Tony Romo and the Cowboys get it done. 

Prediction: Cowboys 34 – Raiders 23

Week 14: @ New York Jets

After some extra days off following a Thursday game the week before, the Raiders travel to New York for the second time. This time, they take on the Jets. 

This is another winnable game on the Raiders’ schedule, as the Jets should be selecting near the top of the draft once again in 2014.

An improved Raiders’ defensive unit should be able to shut down the Jets’ offense, and in a low-scoring game, secure the team’s sixth win of the season.

Prediction: Raiders 14 – Jets 6

Week 15: Vs. Kansas City

Week 15 marks the start of three consecutive games against division rivals for the Raiders. 

Considering how evenly matched the Raiders and the Chiefs are for the upcoming season, a split in their two games would make a lot of sense. 

Here, the Raiders struggle against an improving Chiefs defense and take the loss at home.

Prediction: Chiefs 20 – Raiders 16

Week 16: @ San Diego

The Raiders’ yearly trip to San Diego can almost be considered a ninth home game, as the crowd is often an even split between Raiders and Chargers fans. 

With the help of the home-field atmosphere, the Raiders beat the Chargers for the second time in the season. 

This time, they do so in convincing fashion, surprising many by grabbing their seventh win of the season. 

Prediction: Raiders 27 – Chargers 13

Week 17: Vs. Denver

Playing the Broncos for the second time, the matchup does not get any easier.

While it is quite likely that the Broncos have a playoff spot and bye wrapped up by this point in the year, teams have started to strive away from sitting their players in the final game of the season.

As such, the Raiders take another loss to the Broncos and finish the year at 7-9.

Prediction: Broncos 24 – Raiders 14