The 2009 Raiders schedule is highlighted by a Thanksgiving game against the host Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 26, Oakland's first Thanksgiving game in almost 40 years.
The Raiders open against the visiting San Diego Chargers on Sept. 14 at 7:15 p.m., the second game of a Monday night ESPN doubleheader. Oakland begins a season with a Monday night home game for the third time in four seasons.
The NFL announced its 2009 regular-season schedule April 14.
Click here for the 2009 Raiders schedule.
Since playing in Super Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, the Raiders are 24-72, the worst record in the NFL over that period. In 2009, Oakland seeks to end a franchise-worst six straight losing seasons.
The Raiders' 2009 opponents (counting division opposition only once) had a 104-102-2 record in 2008. The 2007 win-loss record of Oakland's 2008 opponents was 90-118.
Oakland plays three 2008 playoff teams, including the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The others are the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
The Raiders play three home-and-home games with division opponents Denver, Kansas City and San Diego.
Oakland plays the Houston Texans and New York Jets based on a predetermined league formula that pits teams that finished at the same position in their division the previous season. The eight other non-division games are the result of a rotational system, where teams play every team from one AFC division and every team from one NFC division — two at home, two on the road — each year.
The Raiders host the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Jets, Ravens and Washington Redskins. Oakland has road games against the Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Cowboys, New York Giants, Texans and Steelers.
2009 schedule notes:
The Raiders play at the
Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, Oakland's first Thanksgiving game since
a 28-14 loss to the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium on Nov. 26, 1970.
The Raiders open the season with three games against AFC West opposition. After playig the Chargers in the season opener, Oakland faces host Kansas City in Week 2 before hosting the Broncos in Week 3.
The Raiders have a grueling stretch of four road games in five weeks. And three of those games — at Pittsburg (Dec. 6), at Denver (Dec. 20) and at Cleveland (Dec. 27) — are potential cold weather sites.
The NFC East Philadelphia
Eagles and Washington Redskins play the Raiders in Oakland for the
first time since the 1990s. The Eagles last played a regular-season
game in Oakland in 1995 and the Redskins in 1998.
The Jets play the Raiders in
Oakland for the second straight season. The teams played in Oakland
seven times (5 regular season, 2 playoffs) from 1999 to 2003.
The AFC North Baltimore Ravens
play their second regular-season game in Oakland and third overall.
The Ravens beat the host Raiders 16-3 in the 2000 AFC Championship
game. Oakland beat visiting Baltimore 20-12 during the 2003 season.
The Raiders have their bye week in Week 9 (Nov. 8-9).
