Oakland Raiders lead 4 big surprises in the AFC West

The Oakland Raiders are better this season than they were a year ago, meaning that conventional wisdom may not apply this year in the AFC West.

The Oakland Raiders have a lot to look forward to in 2019. After a 4-12 finish last season, a second year under Jon Gruden will pay dividends, especially on the offensive side of the football. Yes, Oakland added the requisite malcontents in Antonio Brown, Vontaze Burfict and Richie Incognito, but they were also smart in the draft.

All this is a positive sign that the Raiders have indeed turned a corner that many NFL talking heads said they would not do. Gruden, who ignored whatever impulses he may have had to jettison Derek Carr and draft a rookie quarterback, has some new weapons in the arsenal.

They also play in a division not so easily decided top to bottom. The AFC West has some play in it, and an improved Raiders team will have some chances they didn’t have last year. The addition of Brown is a legitimate home-run threat that may remind fans of yesteryear, especially in a season that serves as the last one in Oakland before a move in Las Vegas.

Gruden, who saw his NFL coaching sanity questioned a year ago, looks to have an opportunity for the last laugh. While some may pencil in the Kansas City Chiefs as the likely division winner, a more reasonable look may say otherwise.

Bottom line is the Raiders will make some noise inside the AFC West, and outside of it as well. Oakland will compete and win some games they were destined to lose a year ago. Simply put, don’t ignore the fact that heading into 2019, the Raiders are better than they were last season, meaning more wins and a few surprises than you might otherwise think.