Las Vegas Raiders Wild Card vs Cincinnati Bengals: 3 things to watch
By Alex Perl
Las Vegas Raiders Wild Card vs Cincinnati Bengals: 3 things to watch
A much-improved Raiders team
When the Week 11 game against the Bengals had occurred, the Raiders were an unrecognizable bunch. At least this would be in comparison with how formidable the team had looked during the first half of the season, before the Week eight bye.
When the Raiders welcomed the Bengals in Vegas during Week 11, the franchise had lost two straight (one being to the lowly New York Giants), and was still reeling from the controversy and recent resignation of head coach Jon Gruden, but was also thwarted by the release and news surrounding star receiver Henry Ruggs.
This Raiders team is a completely different squad from that Week 11 matchup when not only were they in search of a new identity but have completely put that controversy behind them.
Currently, on a four-game winning streak, this franchise looks like one that is not only competent enough to give the Bengals headaches but may pose virtually the opposite type of opponent for the Bengals in this matchup.
Whatever this team was in Week 11 is not the product that has been currently on the field. The Bengals will be favored in this matchup, but do not count out the Raiders as they will pose a completely different threat to the Bengals in this rematch.