Oakland Raiders haven’t won after a bye since 2002

Oakland hasn’t won after a bye week since 2002.  That’s 10+ years coming off a bye looking groggy.

So what did the Raiders do to try to help curb that decade old problem?

According to Oakland head coach Dennis Allen, the new-look Raiders are not the same kind of team.

“I think we’re all aware of that, but, like I told the players today, the past has no relevance to the future,” Allen said. “Any of the outcomes that have happened after a bye in the past won’t dictate how we go out and play against Pittsburgh. What’s going to dictate how we go out and play against Pittsburgh is how well we prepare during the week, and then how well do we go out and execute that plan on Sunday,” Allen said, according to CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair.

“I think we had a good plan in the bye. I think we got some guys freshened up a little bit. Now the key is we’ve got to focus in on the preparation. We’ve got to do the things that are necessary to go out and play well on Sunday.”

Oakland sits at 2-4 and comes out of the bye with five winnable games against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, the New York Giants, Houston, and Tennessee.  If all goes according to plan for the Raiders, 2013 could be close to their first winning season in a decade.

Their next opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are coming off back-to-back wins against the Jets and the Baltimore Ravens – after four consecutive losses to start the season.

One thing is for sure, the next five games will determine a lot for this version of Oakland football.