Oakland Raiders vs Cincinnati Bengals: Bold predictions for Week 15

1. Oakland wins by a wide margin

So far this season, the Raiders have won three games. The total margin of victory across those three games is eight points. On Sunday against the Bengals, they’ll surpass that margin of victory in one contest, which seems like a tremendous feat in and of itself.

That’s just how bad the Raiders have been this season. I’m honestly surprised they’ve managed to muster three wins up to this point. Earlier in the year, they seemed like near locks for the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, at this point, they’re racking up too many close wins — they’re not very good at tanking.

Either way, a win is a win. The Bengals have dropped five games in a row, while the Raiders are coming off a big victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cincinnati hasn’t been the same since their early-season string of wins, and the loss of Andy Dalton surprisingly didn’t make them any better. With their playoff hopes essentially dashed, the Bengals don’t have much to play for.

So, even on the road, Oakland will muster a convincing win. I’m not going to say it’ll be a blowout because, well, it’s the Raiders. However, with their improving defense and capable offense, I see no reason they can’t walk away with at least a 10-point lead when the final whistle blows.