The
2019 season was the
Oakland Raiders' 60th since they were founded, their 50th in the
National Football League (NFL) and their second under
head coachJon Gruden since his rehiring by the organization (sixth overall). It was the Raiders’ and NFL's last season in Oakland. The Raiders finished the season 7–9, improving on the prior season 4–12 record, but failing to make the playoffs for the third straight year and the 16th time in the last 17 years.
The Raiders were not eliminated from playoff contention until the final week of the season after losing to the
Denver Broncos.[1] Although they surprisingly started the season 6–4, leading some to believe they could potentially challenge the
Kansas City Chiefs for the
AFC West title, the Raiders would suffer a late season collapse losing five of their last six games, including the last game in
Oakland to the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
After initially stating they would not return to
RingCentral Coliseum for 2019, the Raiders were effectively forced to return to the stadium after their regional rivals, the
San Francisco 49ers, blocked an effort to play at
Oracle Park while they awaited the completion of
Allegiant Stadium in
Paradise, Nevada. This was the 25th and final season in the team's second tenure in Oakland and marked the end of the team's longest continuous tenure in one city.[2] It was announced on June 11, 2019, that the Raiders would be featured on
HBO'sHard Knocks, premiering on August 6, 2019.[3]
To commemorate their 60th season, the Raiders wore a special logo which incorporated the torch lit at Raider games in honor of former owner
Al Davis.[5]
Stadium negotiations
In December 2018, the Raiders indicated they would not return to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (renamed
RingCentral Coliseum under a
naming rights deal secured in May 2019) upon the expiration of its lease on the stadium after the
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority filed a lawsuit against the team, seeking financial damages, and would be seeking another venue for the 2019 season. The Raiders then began negotiating a lease with
Oracle Park in
San Francisco in February 2019;[6] however, the
San Francisco 49ers refused to waive their territorial rights, effectively
vetoing the deal.[7] The team briefly negotiated for sharing
Levi's Stadium with the 49ers, but the proposal was reportedly rejected for costing more than the Coliseum's asking price.[8]
On February 25, 2019, the Raiders reached an agreement in principle with the Coliseum Authority to return to the Coliseum for at least the 2019 season. Rent for the 2019 season cost the team $7.5 million, and rent for the 2020 season would have increased to $10.5 million if the option was invoked due to construction delays to Allegiant Stadium; the option for the 2020 season was never exercised.[8][10] As part of the lease agreement, the Raiders did not receive naming rights revenue from RingCentral, and game-day expenses for the Coliseum Authority would also be capped.[2] On March 15, 2019, the Coliseum Authority voted to approve the lease, while the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Oakland City Council voted in favor of the lease on March 19 and 21, respectively, clearing all legal hurdles in time for the NFL's owners meetings on March 24.[11]
^The Raiders traded a conditional fifth-round selection, their 2020 second-round selection and linebacker
Khalil Mack to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for Chicago's first- and sixth-round selections and 2020 first- and third-round selections.[12]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 16 inactive, 10
practice squad
Preseason
The Raiders' preseason opponents and schedule were announced in the spring. On March 27,
Green Bay Packers President
Mark Murphy stated during the league owners' meetings that the Packers and Raiders were in negotiations to play a preseason game August 22 at
Investors Group Field in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the Raiders as the designated home team.[16]Mosaic Stadium in
Regina, Saskatchewan was another potential site for the game, and the teams secured the cooperation of the city and local sports promoter On Ice Management, but the
Saskatchewan Roughridersvetoed the proposal; the Roughriders feared they would be unable to reconfigure the field from NFL to CFL standards in time for the Roughriders' August 24 home game.[17] When the preseason schedule was released, the August 22 Packers-Raiders game was subtly noted as a neutral-site contest, with no location identified.[18] The Raiders confirmed the Winnipeg game June 5.[19] Had the Winnipeg negotiations fallen through, or in the event the game cannot be held in Winnipeg, the game would be moved to
Lambeau Field, thus effectively giving the Raiders only one home game and three away games.[20]
Shortly before the game started, 33 Packers players (among them starting quarterback
Aaron Rodgers) raised objections to the turf fill used to patch the holes where the goal posts had been in their CFL configurations and refused to play. In an unsuccessful effort to assuage those concerns, the league reconfigured the field such that the field was shortened to 80 yards and the last ten yards on each end was converted to end zones.
Just days before the game, the Raiders released wide receiver
Antonio Brown, who was acquired via trade prior to the season, stemming from conduct detrimental to the team, including a heated argument with general manager
Mike Mayock.[21] However, the Raiders played well without Brown, as quarterback
Derek Carr, wide receiver
Tyrell Williams, and rookie running back
Josh Jacobs all had strong performances, with the defense stifling Broncos quarterback
Joe Flacco for much of the game. With a statement win, the Raiders opened their final season in Oakland at 1–0.[22]
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Against traditional rival Kansas City, Oakland took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but the Chiefs stormed back with four touchdown passes from quarterback
Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter. Despite the Chiefs being hampered by injuries to key offensive players such as Mahomes,
Damien Williams and
LeSean McCoy in the second half, the Raiders could not take advantage as Derek Carr threw two interceptions in the third quarter, and the offense was forced to punt on its final two possessions of the game. Oakland fell to 1–1 with the loss.[23] This was the final football game at the Coliseum with the baseball diamond present.
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
After two consecutive losses, Oakland surprised the Colts by taking a 21–10 halftime lead. Though the Colts managed to cut the Raiders' lead to seven by the fourth quarter, Colts quarterback
Jacoby Brissett threw a crucial pick-six to Raiders safety
Erik Harris just before the two-minute warning, effectively putting the game away for Oakland. With the win, the Raiders improved to 2–2.[24] Linebacker
Vontaze Burfict was ejected from the game and later suspended the rest of the season for initiating two helmet-to-helmet hits, including one on Colts tight end
Jack Doyle.[25]
The Raiders headed off to England for an international game against the Bears and former Raiders linebacker
Khalil Mack, who was traded to Chicago prior to the
previous season. Like the previous week, Oakland surged to an early lead, this time behind strong play from Josh Jacobs. Chicago took the lead in the third quarter with 21 unanswered points, but the Raiders eventually answered with a rushing touchdown from Jacobs with just under two minutes left in the game. Oakland's defense intercepted Bears quarterback
Chase Daniel on the next drive, then snuffed out a final comeback attempt in the final seconds of the game. With the win, Oakland entered its bye week at 3–2.[26][27]
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 7: Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Despite holding a 16–6 lead late in the fourth quarter, Oakland allowed a touchdown pass from Jaguars quarterback
Gardner Minshew to
Chris Conley, then failed to run out the clock and missed the subsequent field goal attempt. Jacksonville would capitalize on the ensuing drive as Minshew and Conley connected again for a game-winning touchdown. This was the Raiders' final game played in Oakland before
relocating to Las Vegas for the
2020 season. Fans booed the team as they exited the field for the last time.[28][29] With their fourth straight loss, the Raiders fell to 6–8, but remained in the playoff hunt as the
Pittsburgh Steelers would lose later that night.
Week 16: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
This was the Chargers' final home game at
Dignity Health Sports Park before moving into their
new stadium in the
2020 season. This was also the last time the Raiders and Chargers faced each other—home or away—prior to the
Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas in 2020. As a result, this was the last meeting against the two rivals as California-based franchises. This also turned out to be the Raiders final win as the "Oakland Raiders". With the win, the Raiders snapped their 4-game losing streak, improving to 7–8 and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Week 17: at Denver Broncos
Week 17: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – Game summary
^
abKansas City finished ahead of New England based on head-to-head victory.
^
abcDenver finished ahead of Indianapolis and NY Jets based on conference record. Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Oakland (see below).
^
abDenver finished ahead of Oakland based on conference record.
^
abcOakland and Indianapolis finished ahead of NY Jets based on conference record.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville finished ahead of Cleveland based on record against common opponents. Jacksonville's cumulative record against Cincinnati, Denver, NY Jets, and Tennessee was 4–1, compared to Cleveland's 2–3 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Chargers finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The
2019 season was the
Oakland Raiders' 60th since they were founded, their 50th in the
National Football League (NFL) and their second under
head coachJon Gruden since his rehiring by the organization (sixth overall). It was the Raiders’ and NFL's last season in Oakland. The Raiders finished the season 7–9, improving on the prior season 4–12 record, but failing to make the playoffs for the third straight year and the 16th time in the last 17 years.
The Raiders were not eliminated from playoff contention until the final week of the season after losing to the
Denver Broncos.[1] Although they surprisingly started the season 6–4, leading some to believe they could potentially challenge the
Kansas City Chiefs for the
AFC West title, the Raiders would suffer a late season collapse losing five of their last six games, including the last game in
Oakland to the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
After initially stating they would not return to
RingCentral Coliseum for 2019, the Raiders were effectively forced to return to the stadium after their regional rivals, the
San Francisco 49ers, blocked an effort to play at
Oracle Park while they awaited the completion of
Allegiant Stadium in
Paradise, Nevada. This was the 25th and final season in the team's second tenure in Oakland and marked the end of the team's longest continuous tenure in one city.[2] It was announced on June 11, 2019, that the Raiders would be featured on
HBO'sHard Knocks, premiering on August 6, 2019.[3]
To commemorate their 60th season, the Raiders wore a special logo which incorporated the torch lit at Raider games in honor of former owner
Al Davis.[5]
Stadium negotiations
In December 2018, the Raiders indicated they would not return to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (renamed
RingCentral Coliseum under a
naming rights deal secured in May 2019) upon the expiration of its lease on the stadium after the
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority filed a lawsuit against the team, seeking financial damages, and would be seeking another venue for the 2019 season. The Raiders then began negotiating a lease with
Oracle Park in
San Francisco in February 2019;[6] however, the
San Francisco 49ers refused to waive their territorial rights, effectively
vetoing the deal.[7] The team briefly negotiated for sharing
Levi's Stadium with the 49ers, but the proposal was reportedly rejected for costing more than the Coliseum's asking price.[8]
On February 25, 2019, the Raiders reached an agreement in principle with the Coliseum Authority to return to the Coliseum for at least the 2019 season. Rent for the 2019 season cost the team $7.5 million, and rent for the 2020 season would have increased to $10.5 million if the option was invoked due to construction delays to Allegiant Stadium; the option for the 2020 season was never exercised.[8][10] As part of the lease agreement, the Raiders did not receive naming rights revenue from RingCentral, and game-day expenses for the Coliseum Authority would also be capped.[2] On March 15, 2019, the Coliseum Authority voted to approve the lease, while the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Oakland City Council voted in favor of the lease on March 19 and 21, respectively, clearing all legal hurdles in time for the NFL's owners meetings on March 24.[11]
^The Raiders traded a conditional fifth-round selection, their 2020 second-round selection and linebacker
Khalil Mack to the
Chicago Bears in exchange for Chicago's first- and sixth-round selections and 2020 first- and third-round selections.[12]
Rookies in italics
53 active, 16 inactive, 10
practice squad
Preseason
The Raiders' preseason opponents and schedule were announced in the spring. On March 27,
Green Bay Packers President
Mark Murphy stated during the league owners' meetings that the Packers and Raiders were in negotiations to play a preseason game August 22 at
Investors Group Field in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the Raiders as the designated home team.[16]Mosaic Stadium in
Regina, Saskatchewan was another potential site for the game, and the teams secured the cooperation of the city and local sports promoter On Ice Management, but the
Saskatchewan Roughridersvetoed the proposal; the Roughriders feared they would be unable to reconfigure the field from NFL to CFL standards in time for the Roughriders' August 24 home game.[17] When the preseason schedule was released, the August 22 Packers-Raiders game was subtly noted as a neutral-site contest, with no location identified.[18] The Raiders confirmed the Winnipeg game June 5.[19] Had the Winnipeg negotiations fallen through, or in the event the game cannot be held in Winnipeg, the game would be moved to
Lambeau Field, thus effectively giving the Raiders only one home game and three away games.[20]
Shortly before the game started, 33 Packers players (among them starting quarterback
Aaron Rodgers) raised objections to the turf fill used to patch the holes where the goal posts had been in their CFL configurations and refused to play. In an unsuccessful effort to assuage those concerns, the league reconfigured the field such that the field was shortened to 80 yards and the last ten yards on each end was converted to end zones.
Just days before the game, the Raiders released wide receiver
Antonio Brown, who was acquired via trade prior to the season, stemming from conduct detrimental to the team, including a heated argument with general manager
Mike Mayock.[21] However, the Raiders played well without Brown, as quarterback
Derek Carr, wide receiver
Tyrell Williams, and rookie running back
Josh Jacobs all had strong performances, with the defense stifling Broncos quarterback
Joe Flacco for much of the game. With a statement win, the Raiders opened their final season in Oakland at 1–0.[22]
Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Against traditional rival Kansas City, Oakland took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but the Chiefs stormed back with four touchdown passes from quarterback
Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter. Despite the Chiefs being hampered by injuries to key offensive players such as Mahomes,
Damien Williams and
LeSean McCoy in the second half, the Raiders could not take advantage as Derek Carr threw two interceptions in the third quarter, and the offense was forced to punt on its final two possessions of the game. Oakland fell to 1–1 with the loss.[23] This was the final football game at the Coliseum with the baseball diamond present.
Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
After two consecutive losses, Oakland surprised the Colts by taking a 21–10 halftime lead. Though the Colts managed to cut the Raiders' lead to seven by the fourth quarter, Colts quarterback
Jacoby Brissett threw a crucial pick-six to Raiders safety
Erik Harris just before the two-minute warning, effectively putting the game away for Oakland. With the win, the Raiders improved to 2–2.[24] Linebacker
Vontaze Burfict was ejected from the game and later suspended the rest of the season for initiating two helmet-to-helmet hits, including one on Colts tight end
Jack Doyle.[25]
The Raiders headed off to England for an international game against the Bears and former Raiders linebacker
Khalil Mack, who was traded to Chicago prior to the
previous season. Like the previous week, Oakland surged to an early lead, this time behind strong play from Josh Jacobs. Chicago took the lead in the third quarter with 21 unanswered points, but the Raiders eventually answered with a rushing touchdown from Jacobs with just under two minutes left in the game. Oakland's defense intercepted Bears quarterback
Chase Daniel on the next drive, then snuffed out a final comeback attempt in the final seconds of the game. With the win, Oakland entered its bye week at 3–2.[26][27]
Week 7: at Green Bay Packers
Week 7: Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Despite holding a 16–6 lead late in the fourth quarter, Oakland allowed a touchdown pass from Jaguars quarterback
Gardner Minshew to
Chris Conley, then failed to run out the clock and missed the subsequent field goal attempt. Jacksonville would capitalize on the ensuing drive as Minshew and Conley connected again for a game-winning touchdown. This was the Raiders' final game played in Oakland before
relocating to Las Vegas for the
2020 season. Fans booed the team as they exited the field for the last time.[28][29] With their fourth straight loss, the Raiders fell to 6–8, but remained in the playoff hunt as the
Pittsburgh Steelers would lose later that night.
Week 16: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 16: Oakland Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers – Game summary
This was the Chargers' final home game at
Dignity Health Sports Park before moving into their
new stadium in the
2020 season. This was also the last time the Raiders and Chargers faced each other—home or away—prior to the
Raiders' relocation to Las Vegas in 2020. As a result, this was the last meeting against the two rivals as California-based franchises. This also turned out to be the Raiders final win as the "Oakland Raiders". With the win, the Raiders snapped their 4-game losing streak, improving to 7–8 and keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Week 17: at Denver Broncos
Week 17: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – Game summary
^
abKansas City finished ahead of New England based on head-to-head victory.
^
abcDenver finished ahead of Indianapolis and NY Jets based on conference record. Division tiebreak was initially used to eliminate Oakland (see below).
^
abDenver finished ahead of Oakland based on conference record.
^
abcOakland and Indianapolis finished ahead of NY Jets based on conference record.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville finished ahead of Cleveland based on record against common opponents. Jacksonville's cumulative record against Cincinnati, Denver, NY Jets, and Tennessee was 4–1, compared to Cleveland's 2–3 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Chargers finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.