Oakland Raiders: 3 Bold predictions for the 2019 season

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 and quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders talk on the sidelines during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Wide receiver Antonio Brown #84 and quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders talk on the sidelines during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders watches warm ups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders watches warm ups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

1. Raiders leave Oakland at 8-8

8-8 won’t get the Raiders into the postseason, but it will be a stunning parting gift to fans in Oakland. After a whirlwind, drama-filled 2019, Jon Gruden gets his team to a .500 finish in the AFC West that has the Denver Broncos finishing dead last.

Don’t be shocked. Gruden and Mayock found some talent in the draft, rolled the dice on Brown, and reignited a quarterback who looked to be on the outs in Oakland. The result is a team that many will predict to be a surprise division champ in 2020.

That same 8-8 record will be a nice sendoff for Mayock who will have become fatigued by a circus atmosphere that started with the disruptions caused by Brown.

All in all, 2019 ends the way only a few predicted. It also sets up a nice cushy landing in Las Vegas when the Raiders begin their residency just of the Strip next season.

For all the drama and uncertainty pre-built into this team, the gambles of this past offseason payoff. Vontaze Burfict managed to keep his cool, Gruden found a quarterback in Carr he can trust, and AB manages to be the one to resurrect a dead in the water franchise.

Next. NFL Over/Unders: Predictions for all 32 teams. dark

It won’t be pretty, but fans also won’t care. Especially when they are a dark horse pick to win it all in 2020.