The Oakland Raiders have been one of the best stories in the NFL this season.
Oakland was the laughing stock of the league during the last few years. Things changed last year and even though they finished with an 7-9 record, the Raiders resembled a competitive team. They also had a franchise quarterback in Derek Carr and a stud receiver in Amari Cooper. It seemed 2016 was going to be their year.
We are five games into the regular season and Oakland has been one of the best teams in the league. The running game hasn’t been effective but it’s good enough to keep defenders honest. Amari Cooper seems to be the real deal. Michael Crabtree is one of the most productive #2 receivers in the league. And Derek Carr has taken a leap on his play, evolving as a true leader both on and off the field.
The Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 34-31 and improved to 4-1. They lead the AFC West with the same record as the Denver Broncos. But more importantly, they look like a competent team on offense and a force to be reckoned with defensively. Led by Khalil Mack, Oakland has done enough to stop opposing offenses and Carr has done the rest. The third-year quarterback is in the Top 10 in passing yards, passer rating and yards per game. He’s on his way to stardom and he’s an integral part of Oakland’s success.
However, no one is more important than head coach Jack del Rio. The former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach is as gutsy as it gets, and he trusts the team. And the players trust him, too. The rapport built between the players and the coaching staff is noticeable. The win against San Diego was tough to achieve, but it hasn’t been the only win that has been decided by Del Rio’s aggressive mentality in the final minutes. There’s also the example against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, where the Raiders won the game on a two-point conversion from Crabtree with less than a minute on the clock.
This trust is one of the main reasons why Oakland has looked so good early on. But do they have enough in them to become a contender?
Sure, the AFC doesn’t have the talented teams that currently play in the NFC. Aside from the Broncos, the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, no team has looked better than the Raiders. They have enough talent and enough depth to become a threat come playoff time, and the schedule isn’t as tough as one could think.
Following Week 5’s win over the Chargers, the Raiders will host the Kansas City Chiefs. Then there are two games on the road against Jacksonville and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And there’s a prime-time contest against the Broncos that could have huge playoff implications before their bye week. They finish the season with three games on the road against division rivals and a showdown against the Colts. Not the ideal scenario, but Oakland has shown they can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league.
If they can maintain this level of play then the rest of the league needs to watch out. They might be a dangerous team in the postseason.