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The Oakland Raiders suffered through a brutal 2018 season in Jon Gruden's return to the sidelines as the head coach. While it was a tough season for the fans, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the 2019 NFL season. Oakland will begin their 2019 campaign on Monday night against the Denver Broncos.
Obviously, these two teams are not fans of each other and carry a divisional rivalry into this matchup. The Broncos are also coming off of a disappointing season in 2018, which will add a little extra to this game as both teams look to get back on track to start the year.
Gruden and company have to feel good about the changes they made this offseason. Even with the drama surrounding Antonio Brown this offseason, he is ready to get to work and will be a massive addition. Brown is one of the top wide receivers in the game and is exactly what the doctor ordered for Derek Carr.
Denver went out and made some moves this offseason as well, most notably acquiring Joe Flacco. After a rough year with Case Keenum, John Elway decided to bring in a proven veteran to lead the Broncos.
All of that being said, the Raiders are going to start this season off with a win. Let's dive in and take a look at four reasons that support that bold claim.
4. Jon Gruden Finally Has His Group of Players
It is never an easy task for a head coach to come in and have an easy transition. Gruden came into a situation where he didn't have the guys he wanted, was forced to make two massive trades, and then suffer the consequences of midseason moves.
Now, Gruden has had an entire offseason to bring in a group of guys that will buy in to his system. Mike Mayock and Gruden worked closely this offseason to put together the right roster. Gruden has a team that he can work with now, which will make a major difference on both sides of the football.
3. Josh Jacobs Is a Massive Upgrade at Running Back
Josh Jacobs was one of the biggest additions the Raiders made this offseason. Drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jacobs is going to take over as the starting running back in Oakland right away. He is also going to be a major upgrade for the Raiders.
Gruden's offense needs a dual-threat running back who can work as an every-down back if needed. Jacobs still has talent behind him, especially with receiving back Jalen Richard, but he is going to be utilized a lot. He may be a rookie, but Jacobs is going to put together an impressive season.
2. Derek Carr Is Ready for a Bounce-Back Year
Derek Carr was at one point viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the entire NFL. Denver has a lot of pass rushing talent, but Carr is going to have a good performance. He is out to prove himself after a rough 2018 season.
Oakland put plenty of weapons around Carr, especially compared to last season. Brown was a massive addition and the Raiders also brought in Tyrell Williams. Denver is going to have their hands full with the Oakland offense and Carr is going to have a big game in Week 1.
1. Antonio Brown Is Still Antonio Brown
Finally, there is no denying that Antonio Brown is still one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Put aside the drama that surrounded him in Pittsburgh and the situation he had with the league regarding his helmet. Brown is back to focusing on football and Gruden absolutely loves him.
Brown may have some rust coming out of the gate, but he is still a major threat. He is also going to have a chip on his shoulder and will be looking to prove all of his critics wrong. The superstar receiver playing with extra motivation is a scary thought for the Denver defense.
