The Oakland Raiders will play a second-place schedule, as well as the AFC East and NFC East. What are the five toughest games for the Silver and Black?

After getting back into the AFC Playoffs for the first time in 14 years, you know that the Oakland Raiders are ready to make January football a regular part of their regiment. Oakland went 12-4 last fall and might have been the best challenger in the AFC to the New England Patriots had star quarterback Derek Carr not gotten hurt.

Losing both games to the division rival Kansas City Chiefs ultimately swung the AFC West in Kansas City’s favor. However, Oakland still managed to secure the No. 5 seed in the 2016 AFC Playoffs. For the Raiders to get back, they’ll have to navigate a tough, second-place schedule.

In 2017, the AFC West draws the AFC East and NFC East in divisional rotation. That means there will be an absurd amount of travel for the Silver and Black. However, that’s not a huge thing because last year’s Raiders were an excellent road team. Looking at the 2017 slate, here are the five games that look to be the toughest of the bunch.

5. Week 1: September 10: at Tennessee Titans

One of the best games in Week 1 has to be when the Raiders take on the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Like Oakland, Tennessee looks to be another up-and-coming team in the AFC. The Titans have an excellent starting quarterback of their own in 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Maybe he and Derek Carr will develop a great AFC quarterback rivalry one day?

While Nissan Stadium isn’t a spectacular home-field advantage for the Titans, it’s a great time to be a Nashville sports fan in general. The Titans are a serious contender in the AFC South and the Nashville Predators made it to the Stanley Cup Final in the NHL. This might be the best Titans team in a decade.

Fortunately, Oakland gets to face them Week 1 of the season before Tennessee gains any sort of momentum. If you like elite offensive line play and two of the best young quarterbacks in the game, you have to be excited about this game.

While Tennessee isn’t a complete football team yet, one thing the Titans do very well is pound the rock in Mike Mularkey‘s Exotic Smash Mouth scheme with running backs Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray. To win on the road, Oakland has to be stout in run defense and win the turnover battle.

Overall, Oakland is the better team. There is a great chance the Raiders will see the Titans in the AFC Playoffs for years to come. Getting a solid win in Nashville could be a great way to start the first quarter of the season.

The Raiders should be able to beat the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins in Weeks 2 and 3. It’s not going to be easy to win in Nashville, but it is totally doable. Keep in mind that the Raiders have won at Nissan Stadium the last two seasons.