Picking a key player for every Raiders’ game in the upcoming season

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, May 17, 2024 | 2 a.m.

The Raiders’ 2024-2025 schedule has been out since Wednesday evening, and most fans have probably already run through it multiple times penciling in wins and losses.

So, let’s do something a little different.

Let’s label a key player in every upcoming game with no repeats. There’s plenty of excitement surrounding the Raiders heading into the start of full offseason team activities on Monday, and the following players are the biggest reasons why.

Week 1 (Sunday Sept. 8) at Los Angeles Chargers — Edge rusher Maxx Crosby

The Raiders unanimously talk about their best player and emotional leader, Crosby, setting the tone. The tone will need to be set more than ever in the opening game of the season against a rebuilt divisional rival that’s preaching physicality and doggedness as go-to traits under new coach Jim Harbaugh.

Week 2 (Sunday Sept. 15) at Baltimore Ravens — Linebacker Divine Deablo

It might be impossible to fully stop reigning, and now two-time, Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, but one of the first steps in slowing the Baltimore quarterback is to employ a versatile linebacker on him. Las Vegas has quite the spy candidate in the underrated, fourth-year veteran Deablo.

Week 3 (Sunday Sept. 22) vs. Carolina Panthers — Tight end Brock Bowers

Anticipation from the fan base will be at a fever pitch to catch the Raiders’ top draft pick from this year — the No. 13 overall selection — in his home debut, and for good reason. The former University of Georgia star is a bona fide gamebreaker and set up to get off to a fast start in his professional career.

Week 4 (Sunday Sept. 29) vs. Cleveland Browns — Left tackle Kolton Miller

One of the Raiders’ highest-paid players and captains will need to earn every bit of his paycheck and status by holding reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in check. Miller has been one of the most reliable players on the roster over the last several years, and is just now entering his prime at 28 years old.

Week 5 (Sunday Oct. 6) at Denver Broncos — Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas’ No. 2 receiver haunted Denver last year, scoring four of his 10 touchdowns as a Raider against the divisional rival. Meyers exchanged words with members of the Broncos’ secondary in the process, and he will still have more to prove this year.

Week 6 (Sunday Oct. 13) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers — Running back Zamir White

The Raiders and Steelers have already played three times since the former moved to Las Vegas, and all the games have been slugfests where the harder-nosed team has ultimately prevailed. White will need to be breaking tackles and grinding out yards for the Raiders to beat the Steelers at their game this time around.

Week 7 (Sunday Oct. 20) at Los Angeles Rams — Cornerback Nate Hobbs

The Rams might have one of the best one-two punches of receivers in the NFL this season in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, both of whom frequently line up in the slot. That makes this a showcase game for Hobbs, who has a chance to emerge as one of the NFL’s best slot cornerbacks after showing flashes in his first three seasons.

Week 8 (Sunday Oct. 27) vs. Kansas City Chiefs — Quarterback Gardner Minshew

No matter how much the Raiders hope to rely on defense and the running game, they’re going to have to put up their share of points to spring upsets on an occasion or two. That’s likely going to be the case against the defending Super Bowl champions, and Minshew is more qualified than quarterback competitor Aidan O’Connell to get the job done.

Week 9 (Sunday Nov. 3) at Cincinnati Bengals — Safety Marcus Epps

The team captain, second-year Raider is often credited as the quarterback of the secondary, an elite on-field communicator who makes sure everyone is in the right place. That will be paramount against a dynamic Bengals passing game under quarterback Joe Burrow.

Week 10 — BYE

Week 11 (Sunday Nov. 17) at Miami Dolphins — Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins

The Raiders’ $110 million free-agent acquisition wanted to remain a Dolphin but the two sides went through a contract dispute they could not resolve going into last season. Wilkins now says there are no hard feelings and he looks back fondly on his five seasons in Miami, but he’s still likely to have some extra motivation in a return trip.

Week 12 (Sunday Nov. 24) vs. Denver Broncos — Edge rusher Tyree Wilson

Crosby and Watkins can’t do it all on their own; they need last year’s No. 7 overall pick to break out in his sophomore season and emerge as a disruptive complement up front. Wilson will have hopefully shown signs of putting a disappointing rookie campaign behind him by this point of this season.

Week 13 (Friday Nov. 29) at Kansas City Chiefs — Cornerback Jack Jones

The most memorable highlight of the Raiders’ Christmas Day victory at Arrowhead last year was Jones picking off Patrick Mahomes and returning the interception 33 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Las Vegas is taking a leap of faith by going into the season with Jones as their top cornerback, meaning they’ll need more moments like that for years to come.

Week 14 (Sunday Dec. 8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Tight end Michael Mayer

Tampa Bay was one of the worst teams in the NFL against tight ends last year, and Las Vegas may run two tight end sets more than anyone this season. Bowers’ selection was a shocker because of how much excitement exists around Mayer, a second-round pick in 2023 out of Notre Dame who has Pro Bowl upside in his own right.

Week 15 (Sunday Dec. 16) vs. Atlanta Falcons — Linebacker Robert Spillane

This Monday Night Football showdown is the Raiders’ only prime-time assignment all season, and Spillane showed out on primetime a year ago. First, he had a two-interception game in a Monday Night Football win over the Packers and then a game-clinching interception in a Sunday Night Football win over the Jets.

Week 16 (Sunday Dec. 22) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars — Center Andre James

With the new addition of defensive tackle Arik Armstead to play in between Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Allen and former No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, the Jaguars are going to challenge opponents up front. The Raiders are young on the offensive line but can lean on the sixth-year veteran James, who signed a three-year extension this offseason, to direct them.

Week 17 (Sunday Dec. 29) at New Orleans Saints — Wide receiver Davante Adams

Adams wouldn’t be in Las Vegas if it wasn’t for the “best friend” bond between him and current Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The pair only ended up playing one season together in silver and black but will equally treasure the opportunity to beat each other as opponents.

Week 18 (Date TBD) vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Quarterback Aidan O’Connell

Minshew is a considerable favorite to beat out O’Connell as the Raiders’ starting quarterback going into the season, but most teams end up playing more than one passer as the season progresses in the modern NFL. Whether it’s because of injury or simply the Raiders looking for a spark, O’Connell is likely to get another chance at some point.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or