Las Vegas Raiders: JustBlogBaby Staff predictions for the 2020 NFL season
Kenny King Jr., Contributor
Since 2018, the Raiders have logged more road hours than any team in the NFL, and this preparation, paired with the 7am practice starts in training camp, should have prepared the team for early start of East Coast games. Luckily, the Raiders years in purgatory of traveling has been vacated, and the team has been awarded with a much more favorable schedule.
As always, the Raiders will be tested early and will be tested often, and while on paper the strength of schedule seems to be one of the best in the league, it is quite evident that every game will be a challenge.
The Raiders are prepared to rise to the challenge, as the offseason was spent acquiring talent to build the roster on both sides of the ball, the defense has gotten faster and more aggressive. Offensively, this looks to be one of the most talented and cohesive units the Raiders have seen in the past decade.
If the Raiders are able to translate the talent they have on paper to the football field, Raider Nation should be in for an exciting season.
The defense, which is built with over 50% new starters, will surely have some growing pains, but should be able to fare well against the opposition while the offense looks to capitalize on the speed and talent brought in to help them compete. Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have been working together to curate a football team that can compete for a championship and this season they take their first steps to reaching that goal by making the playoffs for the first time since 2016.