New-look Raiders Not Ready for Prime Time on 2026 NFL Schedule

^{NFL schedule makers played the role of the Grinch in not giving the Las Vegas Raiders any prime-time games in 2026. (Photo: John Locher / AP)}

LAS VEGAS – Allegiant Stadium has been a prime travel destination for visitors looking to cheer on their teams against the Las Vegas Raiders since the franchise moved to Sin City and started playing games in front of fans there in 2021. But for the first time since 2010, the Raiders will not be hosting or playing any prime-time games overall this year after their 2026 season schedule was officially released by the NFL on Thursday night.

Las Vegas is coming off a disappointing 3-14 campaign that got the team No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza, the top quarterback available from the NCAA champion Indiana Hoosiers. According to NFL schedule makers though, the Raiders will not be a big draw this season, which may actually benefit fans of visiting teams with cheaper ticket prices.

However, NFL VP of Broadcasting and Scheduling Mike North told The Rich Eisen Show on Friday that Las Vegas could make it to national television towards the end of the season if the team out-performs expectations. Flexible scheduling can move games into stand-alone spots in the final weeks if the league deems them to be more in demand, such as those involving teams battling for playoff spots.

Mendoza’s Rookie Status Plays into Lack of NFL Confidence

Last year, Las Vegas hosted two prime-time games, starting with the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday, Sept. 15. That game ranked fourth for the Raiders in terms of ticket resale value, behind the top-drawing Dallas Cowboys in a prime-time matchup on Monday, Nov. 17, Chicago Bears on Sept. 28 and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 4 in their season finale. The latter two games were both played on Sundays.

That Cowboys-Raiders game was the second-most expensive game in the entire NFL last season, with the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporting the average ticket price at around $700. Right now, there are no games this season that will likely be anywhere close to that.

While Mendoza could eventually win a Super Bowl and become a Hall of Famer, the odds of him playing early on in his first year are slim. That is one reason why ticket sales are difficult to judge at this point. If Mendoza does not end up playing until after the team’s bye in Week 13, there will only be three home games left for “Raider Nation” to see him play in person.

The uncertainty of Mendoza’s first start for Las Vegas definitely plays into how the team markets its games. At least the Raiders are having fun with it, as they paired Mendoza with veteran QB Kirk Cousins in a hilarious “Step Brothers” spoof in announcing their schedule.

Select AFC East, NFC West Fans Set to Visit Las Vegas in 2026

The Buffalo Bills played at Allegiant Stadium back in 2020 when there were no fans in attendance. That means this year’s game in Las Vegas will be the first time Buffalo’s fans will be able to experience it. However, the Bills are also opening their new stadium this season, so “Bills Mafia” may have to choose between a trip to Vegas and a pricy home game. Regardless, that matchup should still be one of the more popular ones on Oct. 18.

Buffalo is one of two AFC teams visiting Allegiant in 2026, with the Miami Dolphins kicking off the season there on Sept. 13. The Dolphins last played in Vegas five years ago and lost 31-28 in overtime. That game was played in front of a little more than 50,000 fans.

The top two teams from the NFC West a season ago will also be visiting Vegas, including the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 15. New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak was the offensive coordinator of the Seahawks last year, making it a special game for him and their fans who might want to make the trek down to Nevada.

The Los Angeles Rams are the other NFC West team that might garner some major interest as a popular team from Southern California with many transplanted fans living in the Vegas Valley. The Rams also happen to be this season’s Super Bowl favorites at most sportsbooks around town, and they will try to prove themselves worthy of that distinction on Oct. 25.

Those four games figure to be the most popular on the 2026 home slate for the Raiders. However, it is probably worth the gamble to wait and buy tickets closer to the game dates if you want to get the best deals possible and keep money in your pockets for the nearby casinos like Mandalay Bay directly across the I-15.

Full home schedule listed below (all games played on Sundays):

Week 1: Sept. 13 vs. Miami Dolphins at 1:25 p.m. (PT)

Week 4: Oct. 4 vs. Kansas City Chiefs at 1:25 p.m.

Week 6: Oct. 18 vs. Buffalo Bills at 1:25 p.m.

Week 7: Oct. 25 vs. Los Angeles Rams at 1:25 p.m.

Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks at 1:05 p.m.

Week 14: Dec. 13 vs. Los Angeles Chargers at 1:05 p.m.

Week 15: Dec. 20 vs. Denver Broncos at 1:25 p.m.

Week 16: Dec. 27 vs. Tennessee Titans at 1:05 p.m.