HENDERSON, Nev.—The National Football League has released its schedule moments ago, and our yearly, highly anticipated first prediction for the 2026 regular season is sure to have Raiders fans looking forward to the season.

A New Day

The 2026 season is about rebuilding. Who are we kidding? The entire franchise is predicated on rebuilding, and once one embraces that, the sooner the real expectations for the season can come into view. This harsh reality is made more palatable by the fact that the organization has embraced the old identity as a roadmap to getting back.

Fernando Mendoza | Darrell Craig Harris, On SI

The Raiders are a young football team (I predict as many as 12 rookies could make the roster), and with that come young mistakes.…