Jaguars face the Raiders: The Final Game in Oakland

The Jacksonville Jaguars play the Oakland Raiders this weekend. Both teams are suffering through losing streaks of their own.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been dealing with losing since before their bye week in October. The Oakland Raiders have lost their last three games and are narrowly clinging to playoff aspirations. Both teams are desperate for a victory. One team will get back on track while the other will remain a suffering NFL franchise.

The Jaguars continue to have issues at just about every position. The 2017 miracle season seems like many years ago.  Their problems on offense and defense have been discussed and rediscussed so I will spare you reading those same comments once again.

The Raiders will play their last home game in Oakland on Sunday. It will be a sad day for fans of the team and the NFL.  Who can forget the glory days of the Raiders?  The Silver and Black, the dressed-up fans, and the team’s controversial owner Al Davis. The beloved stars of yesterday – Marcus Allen, Fred Biletnikoff, Howie Long, and others, are gone.

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The team will become the Las Vegas Raiders and new memories will come.

"Per Sean Basil’s story on FanSided.com’s Gold Gate Sports, “Things are starting to look bleak for the Oakland Raiders as they’ve now dropped three straight games… The Raiders are now a team in major crisis as the AFC West door has been shut due to their loss and the Kansas City Chiefs’ win.”"

Basil did say Oakland faces a Jaguars team that is dealing with its own blowout loss last week – 45-10 to the Los Angeles Chargers. So it is expected Jacksonville will come to play with something to prove.

The Jaguars have their own issues as stated before. While Gardner Minshew has replaced Nick Foles, neither looks like a franchise quarterback. The rookie will have a chance to prove himself again this week against the Raiders defense.

The Jaguars defense has completely collapsed and the team has looked lifeless the past few weeks. I believe the Raiders are a beatable team. The Raiders are favored to win, but the game hasn’t been played yet.

Despite all the bad news there will be some excellent players on the field.  The Raiders have two fantastic rookies.

"Per Nico DiFede of Golden Gate Sports, “Josh Jacobs became the first Raiders rookie to rush for over 1,000 yards. Jacobs has been consistently the star of the offense. Maxx Crosby, defensive end, despite being a rookie fourth-rounder has been the star of the defense.”"

The Jaguars will rely on their young stars as well. Josh Allen is our star rookie on defense with nine sacks. Offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor is learning to play one of the toughest positions in the league at right tackle. Other standouts include safety Ronnie Harrison, wide receiver DJ Chark, and Leonard Fournette.

This may not be a marquee game for the NFL but it could prove to be better than Jaguars and Raiders fans expect. Nothing will cure these losing streaks like a victory on Sunday. I am rooting hard for my beloved Jaguars.