[5] The Raiders fired head coach Jack Del Rio on December 31, 2017, following the final game of the season and a four-game losing streak.

[6][7][8] This season is notable for former Seattle Seahawks running back and Oakland native Marshawn Lynch coming out of retirement to play for the Raiders before their move to Las Vegas.

In preparation for the team's eventual move to Las Vegas, the Raiders sought to play at least one of their two preseason games at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Four plays later, Derek Carr hit Amari Cooper who bowled into the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown pass to give the Raiders the lead 7–0.

Washington continued to dominate the Raiders in the second half, driving 75 yards on the opening possession and upping the lead to 21–0 on a Josh Doctson 52-yard touchdown catch.

The Denver offense looked good on its second possession of the game, moving 88 yards on seven plays and opening the scoring as Trevor Siemian hit A. J. Derby on a 22-yard pass and catch for a touchdown.

EJ Manuel would find Michael Crabtree on a 41-yard touchdown pass following a scramble, but the Ravens added a field goal before the half to move the score to 24–10.

Looking to stop a three-game losing streak, the Raiders welcomed Derek Carr back after missing one week due to injury to face the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Raiders were looking to break their four-game losing streak with Derek Carr making his second straight start after injuring his back.

As the second quarter began, each team exchanged punts before Smith hit Tyreke Hill on a 64-yard catch and run to give the Chiefs a 17–14 lead.

Trailing 30–21 in the fourth and on the verge of their fifth consecutive loss, the Raiders drove to the Chief eight-yard line before settling for a Tevecchio 26-yard field goal to narrow the lead to six.

Traveling to Buffalo to face the Bills, the Raiders were without running back Marshawn Lynch, who was suspended for one game after making contact with an official during the team's win against Kansas City the week before.

Looking to take some time off the clock, the Bills instead put the game out of reach as LeSean McCoy scored on a 48-yard run on the first play of the drive to move the lead to 34–14.

Following punts by both team, the Dolphins pass offense carved up the Raiders dinged-up secondary, going 82 yards on 10 play as Jay Cutler hit Damien Williams for a 10-yard touchdown.

Four plays later, inside the Raider 25 yard line, Kenyan Drake fumbled the ball to end the Dolphins' drive.

With just over 30 seconds remaining, The Raider offense moved 42 yards on five plays to set up Giorgio Tavecchio's 53-yard field goal as time expired.

In the second half, the Raider offense continued its good play scoring on a 66-yard drive when Carr hit Jalen Richard for six-yard touchdown and a 21–0 lead.

The Broncos chose to not attempt an onside kick and Carr made them pay, hitting Cordarrelle Patterson on a 54-yard pass to allow the Raiders to run out the clock and secure the 21–14 win.

With a Chiefs loss earlier in the day, the Raiders welcomed the struggling New York Giants to Oakland with Eli Manning being benched in favor of Geno Smith.

Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin each forced Geno Smith to fumble in the game to stop potential Giant scoring drives.

After the teams exchanged punts, the Raiders finally scored with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter as Marshawn Lynch rushed 22 yards for a touchdown.

Following a successful two-point conversion, the Raiders recovered an onside kick and Carr hit Jared Cook on a 29-yard pass to narrow the lead to 26–15.

The Raiders drive stalled and, with three seconds remaining, Giorgio Tavecchio missed a 39-yard field goal as the half expired leaving the score at 10–0.

However, the Raider offense would make up for the mistake as they took the ball 90 yards and Carr found Michael Crabtree on a two-yard pass to narrow the lead to 10–7.

On the ensuing Cowboy possession, Sean Smith intercepted Dak Prescott for the second time in the game and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown and Raider lead.

A week later, a Kansas City Chiefs win over the Miami Dolphins eliminated the Raiders from playoff contention a day before their Christmas game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

After the teams traded punts, Carr threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper to tie the game up early in the second quarter.

The Raiders, taking over close to midfield, marched into Eagles territory, but Tavecchio missed a 48-yard field goal to leave the game tied.

Philadelphia used the momentum to close into field goal range, and Elliott connected on a 48-yard try to give the home team the lead with 22 seconds left.

The Raiders headed back to Los Angeles for the first time in 23 years looking to avoid a four-game losing streak and help keep the Chargers out of the playoffs.