Raiders’ schedule tougher in 2021

Face Ravens, Steelers, Khalil Mack’s Bears in 7th- hardest schedule

The Las Vegas Raiders missed the playoffs for the 17th time in the past 18 seasons and, judging by next year’s schedule, things may not get easier for them in 2021.

Heading into the last week of the regular season, the Raiders’ 2021 schedule is the seventh- most difficult one in the NFL. And that includes games next year against all four teams in the NFC East, whose champion could have a 6- 10 record.

This year, the Raiders had the luxury of playing the 12th easiest schedule and yet they are just 7- 8 heading into their season finale in Denver.

The Raiders schedule next season will feature a home game against the Ravens and road games against the Steelers and Cowboys, with ex- Raider Amari Cooper scheduled to face the team that drafted him fourth overall for the first time.

A new twist for the NFL schedule will produce a 17th regular season game for each team — it’s expected to be officially announced by the league in the coming months. The extra game will be a crossover, matching teams in opposite conferences that finished in same place in their division against each other.

The annual crossover game will be determined on a rotational basis, beginning with each AFC West team facing an opponent from the NFC North next season. The Raiders already clinched second place — they edged out the Chargers on the third tiebreaker, record against common opponents — so they’ll face the Bears, who clinched second in the NFC North.

This adds intrigue considering it means the Raiders will face Khalil Mack, who remains their most popular player since the Raiders drafted him in 2014.

We won’t find out for months whether the Raiders-Bears game will be in Las Vegas or Chicago. But the league wants to maintain competitive balance with the one- game crossover, so the teams that get a ninth home game will all be from the same conference, and it will be determined on a rotating, year-to-year basis.

In addition to home- andhome games with division opponents Kansas City, Denver and the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders will have repeat games next season against the Dolphins in Vegas and the Browns in Cleveland.

Game dates and times aren’t usually announced until April, but here’s a look at the Raiders’ opponents for next season:

2021 HOME GAMES: Ravens, Bengals, Eagles, Washington, Dolphins, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos.

2021 ROAD GAMES: Cowboys, Steelers, Giants, Browns, * Colts or Titans, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos.

PROPOSED 17TH GAME ( venue TBA): Bears.

* Raiders play whichever team finishes second in the AFC South; currently the Colts.