Raiders Team Headlines: Is This Oakland Team Ready To Contend For A Super Bowl?
After beating Denver 30-20 in front a nationwide audience on Sunday Night Football, the Raiders assumed sole possession of first place in the AFC West division. In doing so, Oakland (7-2) is sniffing the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. So, are you ready to believe the hype about this Raiders team, or is it still a little too early to get excited?
While most NFL talking heads knew Oakland had some pretty good weapons on offense heading into the season in Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Latavius Murray, the biggest elephant in the room was the defense. As other teams have shown over the years, trying to score one more point than your opponent week in and week out is all but impossible. Even though Oakland ranks 30th overall defensively, it still has won seven of its first nine games.
So, just how are the Raiders getting it done?
Carr Having MVP-Caliber Season
While he's not being dubbed the next Tom Brady or Drew Brees just yet, Carr has had more than a solid season through nine contests.
Having passed for 2,505 yards and 17 TDs with only three INTs to date, Carr is definitely getting some MVP attention around the league. Although there are still seven regular season games to go with dates remaining at Kansas City, San Diego and Denver, Carr has the Raiders poised to win the division, and perhaps more.
Oakland controls its own destiny in the AFC West. Winning the remainder of the season would not only give the Raiders the division crown, but perhaps also home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs if the Patriots falter down the stretch. Doing so would avoid potential trips to New England and Pittsburgh in the wintertime.
Oakland Moving Toward A Positive Mindset
Another key to the Raiders' resurgence has been a major change of culture.
Other than an ugly 26-10 home loss to Kansas City, the Raiders have been present in every game this season, including their other 35-28 loss to start the home season to Atlanta. If the Raiders can continue to get solid performances from guys like Carr, Murray, Cooper and Michael Crabtree, the sky is the limit for this offense.
Meanwhile, the defense has continued to show signs of improvement in recent weeks, something that will be key down the stretch given all three remaining division opponent games are on the road.
Winning On The Road
Lastly, can Oakland continue its winning ways away from the Bay Area?
To date, the Raiders are 5-0 on the road, with a 2-2 mark at home. That road record will be put to the test with the team's three remaining games away from Oakland, all of which are AFC West meetings.
While Chiefs and Broncos games can almost seem like some major collegiate football environments with rabid fan bases, San Diego is more of a transplant city. With the latter, Oakland can expect a fair amount of Raider fans in attendance come Dec. 18.
Although a perfect 8-0 record on the road is certainly within reason, it's more likely the Raiders will lose at least one (perhaps two) of those remaining road contests. If that happens, protecting their home turf will prove even more important.
Although technically a "home" game, Oakland's next contest is against Houston in Mexico City on Nov. 21. After that, the Raiders have home dates remaining with Carolina, Buffalo and Indianapolis.
While it is certainly too early to be awarding AFC West crowns, Oakland fans—and the players, for that matter—can see the light at the end of the tunnel. That tunnel could very well lead to the team's first Super Bowl trip in more than a decade.
Raiders fans across the country have to be staying realistic, while also getting excited watching this young team play great football week in and week out.
Post Author: Dave Thomas.
