Las Vegas Raiders' 2024 schedule could allow them to have division lead before the bye week

The Las Vegas Raiders have not won the AFC West in 21 years and four months. The last time they won was in 2002 when they also lost the Super Bowl that season. Since then, the San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos have all won the division multiple times.

While the Raiders' quest for the AFC West title in 2024 may seem like a distant dream, it's not entirely out of reach. The Kansas City Chiefs, undoubtedly the team to beat, have been on a winning streak. They've secured three Super Bowl victories in the past five years, including a back-to-back win. In fact, they are poised to make history as the first team to achieve a three-peat.

However, this article is not about the Chiefs' dominance. The Raiders have assembled a competitive roster, ready to challenge the status quo. The quarterback play and coaching are the two pivotal factors, the unknowns that could potentially tip the scales in the Raiders' favor or against them. Their performance will be the game changers, determining the Raiders' fate in the AFC West.

Their schedule has now been released, which will help us better understand what could happen with the Silver and Black. I predicted the Raiders would win 11 games this season, and while I'll probably be wrong, it's very doable. With the way their roster is set up, the Raiders could also have the division lead by Week 8, just before the Week 10 bye week.

Through the first eight weeks, the Raiders will face each division opponent just once. They start the season on the road, or at home, depending on how you view Los Angeles, against the Los Angeles Chargers. That game will be very winnable against a team that gutted its roster this offseason.

Then they go on the road and play the Denver Broncos, who will be far worse than they were last year. They are basically making a fresh start in their rebuild. And let's not forget the Raiders have beaten them eight straight times.

Then, of course, in Week 8 is the Kansas City Chiefs. That's the big one for the Raiders. That's the one where you can't just assume the Raiders win, but they certainly have a chance, as we saw last season. The Chiefs have shown to have flaws, and the Raiders have shown to exploit them perfectly. If they beat them, they are 3-0 in the division going into the bye week.

So, by Week 8, the Chiefs will have played just two division opponents. If the Raiders win that matchup, they are 3-0, while the Chiefs are 1-1 in the division.

It's certainly doable, and let's not forget the tough schedule the Chiefs have to start the season.