Oakland Raiders: Super Bowl window opened in 2016
Regardless of where they play, the Raiders have a bright future. They got better in 2015, but Oakland’s Super Bowl window finally opened in 2016 (though it may now have shut for this season following Derek Carr’s Week 16 leg break).
It will remain open for the next few years, as long as this young corps and head coach Jack Del Rio continue to progress. Owner Mark Davis and general manager Reggie McKenzie will continue to put this organization in a position to succeed. So much of the Raiders’ success, or lack thereof, will fall on Del Rio, Carr and outside linebacker Khalil Mack.
The only other team in football (besides the Patriots, obviously) that has a multi-year window to win a Super Bowl is the NFC’s Dallas Cowboys. Both organizations have drafted tremendously well, are well-coached and have young stars at key positions of the football team.
In the AFC West, Denver has about two more years of a brief rebuild to get back to Super Bowl contention, Kansas City has this year and maybe next to get it done and San Diego is a ways back. It’s the Raiders time to shine and get back to contending for Super Bowls. The next several years look good for this organization.