Las Vegas Raiders 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

We touched on how the Raiders need to beat the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium as part of their third-place schedule. Well, here is the other game of that pair the Raiders have to have. As with all the teams addressed here, it will be hard for the Raiders to be a Wild Card team if they don’t hold their own at home vs. an improving team like the Indianapolis Colts.

The AFC South has sent two teams into the AFC playoffs for years now. Though the Colts came up short last season, they are expected to push for the division crown with the Tennessee Titans, while the Houston Texans are expected to take a step back this season. The Raiders should be fortunate they don’t have to play the Titans like the rival Denver Broncos do this season.

Even if the Broncos and Raiders drop their AFC South games, the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t losing at home to the Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers will find a way to beat the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. A win at home over a quality team like the Colts will help the Raiders keep pace in the tight AFC West, as well as give them a potential tiebreaker in the AFC Wild Card race.

Another reason the Raiders need to beat the Colts is Indianapolis’ new starting quarterback is a familiar face from his days in the AFC West: Former Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. If the Raiders can’t beat Rivers and his declining skill set at home on a new team, then the Raiders probably don’t deserve to make the AFC playoffs any way.