Although no dates have been set, the Oakland Raiders know which opponents they will face for the 2013 NFL Season, as well as where they will play those games, whether home or away.
The NFL schedule is created using a pretty simple formula. Obviously, every team plays six divisional games; three at home and three away. Then, every division takes on another division within its own conference, as well as one from the opposite conference. Then there are two "flex" games.
The "Flex" games are determined by divisional finishing position. Each team plays the team which finished in the same position in each of the two remaining interconference divisions. The "flex" opponents will always be in the same conference.
Therefore, it's easy to determine who the Raiders will play, but the NFL decides which will be home games, away games, and the dates those games will play.
The dates are not set as yet, but the opponents for the Oakland Raiders' 2013 schedule have been decided.
Oakland Raiders 2013 Home/Away ScheduleHOME DIV 2012 RECORD AWAY DIV 2012 RECORD
Tennessee Titans AFC South 6-10 Indianapolis Colts AFC South 11-5
Jacksonville Jaguars AFC South 2-14 Houston Texans AFC South 12-4
Washington Redskins NFC East 10-6 New York Giants NFC East 9-7
Philadelphia Eagles NFC East 4-12 Dallas Cowboys NFC East 8-8
Denver Broncos AFC West 13-3 Denver Broncos AFC West 13-3
San Diego Chargers AFC West 7-9 San Diego Chargers AFC West 7-9
Kansas City Chiefs AFC West 2-14 Kansas City Chiefs AFC West 2-14
Pittsburgh Steelers AFC North 8-8 New York Jets AFC East 6-10
The combined record of the Raiders' opponents in 2012 is 98-109. That doesn't constitute what most would consider a "tough schedule." However, having to travel all the way to New York twice, as well as being forced to play the AFC South champion, Houston Texans, in their house would prevent anyone from referring to this 2013 schedule as "easy."
Whatever the case, this is the hill the Raiders must climb on their way back to respectability. It's not the most difficult schedule in the league, but it could be made more difficult depending upon how the NFL schedules these games. Back to back east coast trips, or having multiple road games in a row would make this schedule much more difficult that it would appear on the surface.
LINK:
http://raidernationtimes.com/article.php?id=9573
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:50 am