Oakland Raiders 2008 Regular Season Opponents

Well, besides the Monday Night Football match up against their arch rival Denver Broncos on September 8th, the Raiders 2008 regular season schedule hasn't been officially announced just yet, but we do know who they will be playing this season.

I guess this is good and bad news for Raiders fans, the good news is that the Raiders opponents aren't very good (at least compared to last season) and that could be very favorable to the Raiders in terms of getting into the playoffs, but there aren't many teams that will be that entertaining to watch.

Here are the Oakland Raiders 2008 opponents:

New Orleans Saints: If these guys play anything like last season and Reggie Bush still turns out to be a bust then expect the Raiders to roll over the Saints, that is if JaMarcus Russell gets the offense clickin' and Hall dominates on the defensive side of the ball.

Atlanta Falcons: I don't think I really have to say anything about these guys, they were just awful last year without Michael Vick and they haven't exactly gone out tried to improve their roster so far, but there is still a lot of off season left, so you never know.

Carolina Panthers: Every single season, the Panthers seem to be Super Bowl favorites, until they hit about Week 2 where they fall flat on their face, but with a healthy Jake Delhome and Steve Smith they will always be dangerous.

Tampa Bay Bucs: You can never count out a team coached by Jon Gruden, but you can't ignore the absolute meltdown at the end of last season. Who knows how many years Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway have left in them, but when they are on their game, they are hard to stop!

Miami Dolphins: They will still be the laughing stock of the NFL, but I don't think they are only going to win one game this time around.

New York Jets: Should be an easy win for the Raiders as the Jets really don't look like they are going to be a good team anytime soon, especially with Chad Pennington taking the snaps.

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens will be the biggest question mark this season because it will be the first time in a long time without coach Brian Billick who has made the Ravens primarily a defensive squad and maybe (if they have any sense) they will try and change it up a bit, so it could either result in another dominant AFC team or it will blow up in their face.

Houston Texans: I actually like the Texans, I think they are a very balanced team with young players and looking to break into the NFL's elite, not like the Pats or Colts, but a playoff contender. This will be a tuff match up for the Raiders.

Buffalo Bills: At one point last season I thought the Bills were going to turn the corner and start winning some games, but they just fell apart and I don't see anything different this season, should be an easy W for the silver and black.

New England Patriots: For the first time since the dreaded snow game where the Patriots stole the game in one of the worst calls in NFL history, the Raiders and Patriots will be a game worth watching without a predictable outcome. I am not saying the Raiders are going to win, but they will give the Pats a run for their money.

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers: God I hate these guys, especially after last season watching LT punk ass on the sidelines and not even attempting to get back in the game or support his teammates. They will still be a tuff team to be, but I guarantee you won't see LT light up the Raiders D for 4 TDs again.

Kansas City Chiefs: This team rests solely on the shoulders of running back Larry Johnson (who killed me in fantasy football last year), if he is healthy and playing like he did two seasons ago, then the Chiefs won't be an easy W.

Denver Broncos: Honestly, I think Mike Shanahan's reign in Denver is over after this season because I don't see any bright spots besides Jay Culter in his roster, but the NFL can be very unpredictable so anything is possible.

2008 Prediction

With these opponents not exactly being the cream of the crop in the NFL, the Raiders improving their roster on seemingly a daily basis and the very real possibility of getting Darren McFadden in the 2008 NFL Draft I think the Raiders have a good chance of going 10-6. A bold prediction, I know, but I think they will be able to pull it off!