With the 2025 NFL schedule being released, it feels like we're that much closer to Raiders football once again.

Following a 4-13 record in 2024, the organization has made great leaps this offseason in putting together a improved product. These decisions include bringing in Pete Carroll and John Spytek to lead the ship, along with key additions at quarterback and running back.

Now knowing when the Raiders will be playing each opponent, here are five games with some intriguing storylines to follow:

PRE 1 • Las Vegas Raiders at Seattle Seahawks

Yes, it's just a preseason game – but it's hard to exclude this one from the list.

It almost seems like fate that Pete Carroll would coach his first game for the Raiders against the team he previously coached for 14 seasons. The team he won 147 games, two straight NFC Championships and Super Bowl XLVIII with.

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks. That's who's first on the docket for Carroll's Raiders.

It's also worth noting that Geno Smith could potentially see some action in the contest, playing against the team that traded him to the Raiders this offseason. His tenure in Seattle included two Pro Bowl selections and 76 passing touchdowns.

Week 1 • Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots

Ironically, in the season opener, Pete Carroll will face another of his former teams. He coached the Patriots from 1997-1999, the last head coach job he held before going to USC and winning two national championships with the Trojans.

The Silver and Black will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face a New England Patriots team that did a lot of retooling this offseason. The Pats hired their former All-Pro linebacker Mike Vrabel, who won AP Coach of the Year in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans, to be their head coach. He also brought in Josh McDaniels, who was the Raiders head coach from 2022-2023, to be the team's offensive coordinator.

Along with the coaching hires, they've signed a plethora of free agents, including three players who were on the Raiders roster last season – Robert Spillane, Marcus Epps and K'Lavon Chaisson. The Raiders have a few former Patriots on their sideline as well in Jakobi Meyers, Elandon Roberts and Adam Butler.

Also worth noting the last time these two teams faced, the Raiders came away victorious in miraculous fashion with a walk-off fumble recovery to the end zone by Chandler Jones.

Week 6 • Las Vegas Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans

This matchup in Allegiant Stadium could feature two early frontrunners for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Tennessee selected quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. He notably worked his way up from receiving one college scholarship from FCS Incarnate Word to winning the Davey O'Brien Award and ACC Player of the Year in 2024 with the Miami Hurricanes. He finished his senior season throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns along with 204 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Five picks after Ward, the Raiders selected Ashton Jeanty, who was a phenom for the Boise State Broncos backfield. He had one of the historically best seasons for a collegiate running back in 2024, rushing for 2,601 yards which is the second most in a single season, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

It seems like a realistic chance we'll see these two go head-to-head. And despite them still being rookies, the expectations will be high.

Week 7 • Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Over the past two seasons when the Raiders have stepped into Arrowhead Stadium, it's made for must-see television.

In Week 15 of the 2023 season, the Silver and Black spoiled the Chiefs' Christmas Day with a 20-14 victory. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked four times and the Raiders defense forced two turnovers. Following the Christmas Day defeat, the Chiefs went on to win 15 consecutive games including their second straight Super Bowl title.

The following season, Las Vegas had the Chiefs on the ropes again on Black Friday with Aidan O'Connell throwing for a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns. Unfortunately, a few missed field goals and an untimely fumble in the closing moments resulted in the 19-17 win for Kansas City.

Even without their recent history, this is still a game that would be circled for the Raiders regardless. These two teams are AFC West rivals and the Chiefs are coming off their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance.

The last three seasons in which the Raiders have played on the road in Kansas City, the game has been determined by one possession.

Week 15 • Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles

Arguably the Raiders' toughest opponent on the schedule is the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles are coming off a 14-3 record and their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history after a 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. It's hard to point out a weakness on an Eagles team that had a top 10 ranked offense in 2024 along with a defense that allowed the fewest yards and second-fewest points to opposing offenses.

This could also make for a great game to showcase the present and future of the running back position as Ashton Jeanty squares off against 2024 Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley. Last season, Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

This is one of the few games on the Raiders schedule where weather may play a factor as well, traveling to the northeast in mid-December to play in an open roof Lincoln Financial Field.