Oakland Raiders: 3 Bold predictions for the 2019 season
By Steve Rivera
2019 has the potential for a big turnaround in the East Bay. If the Oakland Raiders can stop the drama, their last season in Northern California could be a memorable one.
The Oakland Raiders could be on tap for a big improvement in 2019. Then again, as chaos reigns with offseason acquisition Antonio Brown and all the drama that came and now went with him, such high hopes could be dashed.
Let’s not kid ourselves, the Raiders have made tangible improvements. They drafted smart, are stable at quarterback with Derek Carr, and traded for a significant playmaker in Brown. Yet it’s that high profile name that may be the undoing in Oakland, especially after his shocking release.
Beyond the drama, the Raiders look to be a team destined for better than 4-12. With or without Brown, Jon Gruden appears to have righted the ship and has his team poised for anything other than a last-place finish. As the team looks to be nearing an end in the East Bay, fans are hoping that the send-off will include a better showing than what they saw in 2018.
So, what do the Silver and Black have in store for the last season in Oakland? How does this team perform now that Brown won’t be suiting up? Does Gruden begin to show a building frustration with a looming mistake needing a resolution?
As I began, 2019 has a ton of potential for the Raiders. With any luck and some changes in behavior, Oakland could surprise the AFC West and quiet a lot of critics.