It's Christmas and your birthday wrapped in one glorious Festivus package because, really, who does not have a grievance or three to air when the NFL drops its schedule on 32 fanbases all waiting in joyful hope?

The NFL has done a masterful job in making the schedule release an event all on its own. As well as giving respective, though not necessarily respectful, team media departments an opportunity to stretch their legs…while throwing equal amounts of shade at opponents and pride onto themselves.

Or did you miss the Raiders' epic schedule release video?

Fired up yet? Got a complaint?

Good, because that's what the schedule release is intended to do - get a reaction and Pavlov you into booking that travel while securing those tickets. And if you're really into it, take a deeper dive into what the schedule actually means for your favorite team.

For years, conspiracy theorists have claimed the league has had it out for the Raiders and it's not paranoia if they're out to get you, right?

But this schedule feels, well, different, when it comes to the Raiders, who only have one set of back-to-back road games, and not until December, and close out with consecutive games at Allegiant Stadium. In fact, the Raiders have only one cold-weather game, albeit at the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles on the front end of those consecutive roadies. And, while the bye is in Week 8 - after being in Week 10 last season, Week 13 in 2023 - the Raiders have a sort of mini-bye between Weeks 10 and 11. At nearby Denver on a Thursday night followed by a much-hyped Monday night game at home against the Cowboys.

The Raiders are also entering their third straight season with a third different combo of general manager and head coach. So what do John Spytek and Pete Carroll have to look forward to?

Glad you asked.

Join me, then, for a deeper dive on some highlights, and lowlights, of the Raiders' 2025 schedule…

Scene of the Crime Opener?

Yes, yes, I get it, the Tuck Rule Game is so 2002, and Charles Woodson's playoff game-sealing strip-sack of Tom Brady (before it was overturned) happened at old Foxboro Stadium, a fumble recovery away from where the Patriots now play at Gillette Stadium. But the Raiders, with Brady now a minority owner, opening the season at TB12's former haunt feels like a full-circle moment. Especially with at least five former Raiders, including linebacker Robert Spillane, now donning Patriots uniforms (and don't forget Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers, who spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in New England). There's a lot of history between these two original AFL franchises (Sugar Bear Hamilton vs. Ken Stabler, anyone? Howze about Matt Millen vs. Patrick Sullivan? Josh McDaniels vs. um, 100 Gorilla Rillas?!?) as well as between Carroll and the Patriots (Carroll once coached in New England and, no doubt, Beast Mode still wants a crack at the end zone). Good, bad and ugly. There are worse ways to kick off a season.

'What's your deal?' home opener

The first of the Raiders' three primetime appearances is also the Raiders' home opener in a revival of the Carroll-Jim Harbaugh rivalry that began between USC and Stanford and continued with the Seahawks and 49ers. And on Monday Night Football, to boot. The Raiders, who went winless in the AFC West last season for the first time since 2006, have a shot at ending that winless divisional streak early, and, for the first time since 2022, the Raiders will not open the season with a two-game road trip. See, things are already looking up, no?

A woulda, coulda, shoulda dream Super Bowl matchup

How, in all that is holy in Silver and Blackdom, have the Raiders and Cowboys never met in a Super Bowl (Yes, I realize the Raiders last played for a Lombardi Trophy in 2003, the Cowboys in 1996)? But especially in the 1970s, when the Raiders appeared in six AFC title games, Dallas in seven NFC championships. The next best thing, then? A Monday Night Football affair at Allegiant Stadium in Week 11, with Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty looking to make Raiders legend Marcus Allen’s comp of Cowboys legend/all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith come to fruition.

Home cooking?

The Raiders have 10 regular-season home games. That's not a misprint. Nine at Allegiant Stadium and another at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers, what with the Raiders' popularity in Los Angeles still strong after their 13-season stint in the Southland from 1982 through 1994. The key, then, is taking advantage of such a homefield advantage, right? The Raiders are just 1-6 at SoFi, built on the Inglewood site where Al Davis once planned on building a stadium for the Raiders, who claim L.A. as a capital city of Raider Nation. And as Raiders Owner Mark Davis told me, making Allegiant Stadium more intimidating and, thus, inhospitable to opposing teams and fans will come with more Raiders wins in Las Vegas. Stay tuned.

Silver and Black, or Silver and Blechh? A bold prediction

The Raiders, running on Carroll's energy, enthusiasm and experience as well as new quarterback Geno Smith's quick taking to Chip Kelly's offense and Maxx Crosby being, well, Maxx Crosby, will get off to a fast start by winning their first two games. With more-than-winnable games at the Colts in Week 5 and home against the Titans and No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward a week later, the Raiders will have a winning record entering their Week 8 bye. And yes, that would mean the Raiders would have as many wins through seven games as they had all of last season in finishing 4-13. And that, Raider Nation, is a bold prediction…relatively speaking.