Oakland Raiders: 7 last-minute predictions ahead of the 2019 season
While Raider Nation may have to wait through the weekend to get to their season-opener on Monday Night Football, here are seven last-minute predictions for the 2019 Oakland Raiders season.
After months of speculation, transactions, roster cuts, personnel overhauls, late-breaking retirements, HBO specials, and plenty of hot takes, the NFL season has finally begun again.
While eager football fans will be tuning in to the Packers-Bears matchup to kick off the season, Oakland Raiders fans will have to wait until Monday night to get their fix.
Though expectations may not be the highest for the Raiders as compared to other teams in the mix, they’ve easily become one of the most talked-about teams in the NFL. There are millions of questions that could be answered as early as the first few weeks of the season for the Raiders.
Will Derek Carr return to the form we saw two years ago when he was regarded as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game? Will Antonio Brown contribute meaningfully to a team that has defended his antics?
How much will this past draft class contribute to the team? Is Jon Gruden the messiah that was being lauded before he signed his mega-deal with the silver and black?
The list goes on and on.
The team, surely, has to be improved from what we saw last season. Reeling from the Khalil Mack trade to the Chicago Bears, the Oakland Raiders had to look closely between the lines to find positives in a lost 4-12 season.
The task will be difficult this upcoming season. Of all 32 teams in football, the Raiders have the toughest schedule; their opponents’ combined 2018 record tallies higher than any other slate.
To make matters worse, an early — and extended — road trip near the beginning of the season threatens to derail any momentum established in the first couple of weeks.
Starting in Week 3, the Raiders will embark on a six-week journey on the road, including a bye week and a “home game” against the Bears in London.
It’s the steep price paid for being part of a loaded AFC West. And the price of a little bad luck too, admittedly.
Fortunately, this could turn out to be a case of “put up or shut up” for a cast that could be on the chopping block this coming offseason or in the coming years. If the Raiders are, indeed, able to exceed expectations this season, it’ll be done against formidable opponents.
Even with the muted expectations for the season — paired with the mixed opinions on just how good or bad the Raiders will fair within their own division — much rides on this season for a team that looks to create some momentum heading into a relocation to Las Vegas.
Some of the questions above will be answered in the coming weeks. Other questions will come up as the season matures. But after taking in all the pieces of the puzzle, there are a handful of things that Raider Nation might be able to actually expect out of this season.
So, without further ado, here are seven last-minute predictions — some bold, and others not-so-bold — for the 2019 Oakland Raiders season.