Fansided

One thing every NFL team can be thankful for in 2016

By John Buhler

Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) celebrate with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) after he scored a touchdown in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin (70) and center Travis Frederick (72) celebrate with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) after he scored a touchdown in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
24 of 32
Next
Nov 6, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr’s energy is infectious

Raise your hand if you thought the 2016 Oakland Raiders would be 8-2 and in first place in the AFC? Exactly. The Raiders have been one of the best stories in the NFL this season. One more win this year will give Oakland its first winning season since its last trip to the Super Bowl in 2002.

There have been several major factors keying the Raiders’ turnaround. Mark Davis has been a great owner for them. Reggie McKenzie is an elite general manager. Jack Del Rio has his team playing with brash and bravado. However, it’s all about the starting quarterback and Derek Carr’s energy is infectious.

Carr’s charisma has elevated this once-downtrodden AFC West franchise. Nobody in the AFC and maybe on the NFC’s Dallas Cowboys are having as much fun as the 2016 Raiders. Carr isn’t perfect in his third season out of Fresno State, but he is exactly the type of franchise quarterback Oakland needs to be very good for a very long time.

In an AFC West that has two other strong playoff caliber teams in the Denver Broncos (7-3) and the Kansas City Chiefs (7-3), the 8-2 Raiders would not only win that division, but would have home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs should the season end today. Oakland has the strength of schedule tiebreaker over the New England Patriots. Carr is not the MVP, but who wouldn’t want to play on his team?

Home/NFL