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          NFL Nation

          2018 Oakland Raiders game-by-game predictions

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterApr 20, 2018, 02:15 AM
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          Jon Gruden’s return to the NFL as a coach -- he was the Oakland Raiders' headman from 1998 through 2001 and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 through 2008 -- is a big deal. Big enough that the Raiders are on prime-time television four times in 2018. A rough start, which includes a “home” game in London, and a chilly finish will tell the tale for Gruden 2.0, even as the Raiders are tied for the fourth-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL. They had the fourth toughest in 2017.

          Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10, vs. Los Angeles Rams, 10:20 p.m. ET

          Welcome back to the NFL, Jon Gruden, and on ESPN’s Monday Night Football no less. Gruden’s first game on the Raiders sideline since the 2001 season is a monster test, against the likes of the Rams defense with Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Record: 0-1

          Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET

          The last time Oakland played here, Derek Carr broke three bones in his back. Hopefully for the Raiders’ sake, the Broncos' defense does not break Oakland’s will. Record: 0-2

          Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET

          Gruden & Co. finally break through, in the South Florida heat and humidity, for Gruden’s first regular-season win as Raiders coach since Dec. 15, 2001. Record: 1-2

          Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. Cleveland Browns, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Remember when Hue Jackson said he was going to take an even stronger hand with the entire Raiders organization? Neither do the Raiders. Record: 2-2

          Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Things got ugly in a hurry the last time these two met on the Bolts’ temporary soccer pitch for a field. And the Chargers should be the division favorites. Record: 2-3

          Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Seattle Seahawks in London, 1 p.m. ET

          The Raiders are starting to coalesce with Gruden 2.0, while the Seahawks are in rebuild mode. Bruce Irvin and Marshawn Lynch have the last laugh over Uncle Pete (Carroll). Record: 3-3

          Week 7: Bye

          Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Indianapolis Colts, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Will Andrew Luck be playing by this time? If not, be sure to peep the faux Twitter account of him as a Civil War captain. Trust me. Record: 4-3

          Week 9: Thursday, Nov. 1, at San Francisco 49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET

          Technically, Oakland is closer to San Francisco than Santa Clara. Also technically, there is more grizzled veteran talent on the Raiders roster ... in mid-April. Record: 5-3

          Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are the NFL’s best pass-rushing duo. And Philip Rivers has a thing about driving daggers into the heart of Oakland. Record: 5-4

          Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Gruden’s gang has been grinding and needs a laugher. The Cardinals provide the jokes. Record: 6-4

          Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET

          How many times will Michael Crabtree be flagged for his Kenny Powers finger-sniff post-TD celebration against the Raiders? Depends on how many times the Raiders put Shareece Wright on him. I kid. Kinda. Record: 6-5

          Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:05 p.m. ET

          Alex Smith is gone, much to the relief of the Raider Nation. Patrick Mahomes II, welcome to the Black Hole. Record: 7-5

          Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET

          These ancient AFC rivals will conjur up images of Stabler-Bradshaw, Atkinson-Swann, the Immaculate, ahem, DE-ception. Carr outlasts Ben Roethlisberger under the lights. Record: 8-5

          Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET

          New Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther should have the blueprint on how to attack the Bengals. Yet it has all the makings of a trap game, given the emotional home games surrounding Cincinnati. Paging Admiral Ackbar. Record: 8-6

          Week 16: Monday, Dec. 24, vs. Denver Broncos, 8:15 p.m. ET

          Khalil, Case. Case, Khalil. Yes, the Raiders' all-everything edge rusher, Khalil Mack, should be in new Broncos QB Case Keenum’s grill all night in the Raiders’ fourth prime-time game of the year. Record: 9-6

          Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET

          Arrowhead Stadium has been Carr’s personal house of horrors. Can Gruden perform an exorcism? Record: 9-7