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10 NFL teams poised to be better in 2016

By John Buhler

Jun 14, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarter back Marcus Mariota (8) passes the ball during mini camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarter back Marcus Mariota (8) passes the ball during mini camp practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 30, 2016; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (center) stretches with receiver Michael Crabtree (15) at training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (center) stretches with receiver Michael Crabtree (15) at training camp at the Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

28. . AFC. West. Oakland Raiders. 1. player

It seems that the decade plus era of dysfunctional Oakland Raiders football is certainly in the rear view mirror. If last year was a sign for good things to come for the Silver and Black, 2016 could be a breakout year for Jack Del Rio’s Raiders.

Oakland should vie for an AFC Playoff berth this fall. They have the personnel to be a top six team in the AFC and will challenge the arch rival Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West Division Title. The Raiders easily have the three best young players in the AFC West: quarterback Derek Carr, outside linebacker Khalil Mack, and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Defensive back Karl Joseph has also turned some heads at camp as a rookie out of West Virginia University.

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Outside of maybe the Dallas Cowboys, the Raiders will probably have the best offensive line in football. General manager Reggie McKenzie has been the focal point of the Raiders’ organizational turnaround in the Mark Davis of ownership. McKenzie is becoming one of the very best front office guys in the league and he earned every penny of that four-year deal he received this summer.

Having Davis be hands-off has allowed Oakland to position itself to prosper in the AFC for years. Del Rio is the right coach to lead this team and his two coordinators in Bill Musgrave and Ken Norton, Jr. might be hot tickets to land head coaching gigs on the next spin of the heading coaching carousel.

After being irrelevant since the 2002 NFL season, the Raiders are ready to take the league by storm. They should be at worst .500 this season. Oakland is probably closer to a 10-6 team than people realize. If the Raiders can get to 10-6 or 11-5, they could win the AFC West. From there, who’s to say that the Raiders can’t be a dark horse to play in the 2016 AFC Championship?

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