The expectations for the 2019 Oakland Raiders are all over the board. Some believe the team has enough talent to make the playoffs while others believe they are more likely to compete for the No.1 pick, rather than a playoff spot.
In a recent article by Nate Davis of USA Today, he projected the win totals of all 32 teams for the 2019 season. Unfortunately, he wasn’t optimistic about the Raiders’ outlook, projecting them to win just five games this season. Here is what Davis had to say about the Raiders and their 2019 chances:
‘Hard Knocks’ should be fun. The offense should be a lot more fun with WR Antonio Brown and rookie RB Josh Jacobs. But the defense still appears suspect, especially up front. Wouldn’t bet on them heavily before they land in Vegas.
While all eyes will be on the additions of Brown and Jacobs, it will likely be the defense that decides the fate of the Raiders this season. Players such as Maurice Hurst, Arden Key and Gareon Conley all need to have career years in order for the defense to take the next step.
Oakland is a significantly more talented team now than a year ago, but is that enough to vault them into playoff contention? We shall see.
