The Oakland Raiders struggled throughout the 2018 NFL season, but former members of the organization are currently pushing towards the Super Bowl.
During Wild Card Weekend, the 4-12 Oakland Raiders were nowhere to be seen, but plenty of former Raiders were featured in the four games across Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, a certain former wide receiver went for over 100 yards in a victory, while a generational talent led a Chicago Bears defense on Sunday.
During the 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree stood atop the Raiders depth chart at wide receiver, and both of them made impacts on Wild Card Weekend.
On Saturday, Cooper played in the second playoff game of his career, starring for the Dallas Cowboys. Cooper played a huge role in the Cowboys win, hauling in seven passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Crabtree racked up two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, though his Ravens fell short.
Sunday night, Raider Nation had to sit back and watch Khalil Mack and his Chicago Bears host a playoff game, and he spirited a defense that held the Eagles in check. No. 52 was all over the field, as he continues a terrific season that saw him named an All-Pro in his first year in the Windy City.
New Year’s resolutions
The Raiders struggled through a very tough 2018 season, as they could never really put four quarters of football together. They have a bunch of work to do as they look towards the 2019 NFL season, but they have a bunch of draft capital heading into April’s 2019 NFL Draft, as well as over $70 million in salary cap space.
In looking at possible resolutions, we wrote about their need for a pass rush, a true No. 1 wide receiver, as well as a bolstered offensive line. Those may be a lot to ask for, but that is what resolutions are for, now the hard part begins in the team actually getting the work done.
Tom Flores to the Hall?
Tom Flores was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past week, and you have to think that this is the year he finally gets in. Flores is one of those names that is synonymous with professional football, and his mark on one of the more storied franchises in professional sports in the stuff of legend.
Flores was an absolute pioneer, and his place in the Hall of Fame has been vacant for far too long. Not only did he win two Super Bowls as the head coach of the Raiders, but also one as an assistant coach, as well as a player, giving him four rings total. There really should not be a Hall of Fame if Flores is not in it.