The Oakland Raiders are officially back, and with a healthy Derek Carr ready for the 2017 season, they could make a serious run at the Super Bowl.
The 2002 NFL season was a special one for the Oakland Raiders. Coming off their third straight division title, the Raiders would reign supreme in the AFC, making it to the Super Bowl. They would be beaten badly by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXVII, in what would prove to be their last playoff game in a long time.
Since losing 48-21 to the Bucs in the Super Bowl, the Raiders have fallen on some hard times. Prior to last season, they had not won more than eight games in a season, and had finished in either third, or last in the division every year. That all changed in 2016, as they were led by two men who turned around the franchise back in 2014.
During the 2014 NFL Draft, the Raiders made two picks that will forever change the franchise. The team selected defensive end Khalil Mack in the first round, before taking quarterback Derek Carr in round two. Since a 3-13 rookie season, the two have led the Raiders on a steady ascent in the AFC, and they have the team on the doorsteps of their first Super Bowl since that loss to the Bucs.
Last season, the Raiders finished second in the AFC West, clinching their first playoff spot since the 2002 season. However, the season could be seen as a disappointment, as an injury really derailed what could have been a special season. Carr broke his leg during the team’s Week 16 win against the Indianapolis Colts, and it would begin a string of events that would see them eliminated in the Wildcard Round of the playoffs.
In Week 17, the Raiders were beaten by the Denver Broncos, and lost the division to the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead of a No. 2 playoff spot, and a Wildcard Round bye, the Raiders had to go to Houston to play against the AFC South Champion Texans. Without Carr at quarterback, the offense sputtered, leading the team losing their first playoff game in 14 years.
Heading into the 2017 season, the expectations could not be higher for the franchise, who also will have a new home in a couple of season. The Raiders are moving to Las Vegas, which will be the team’s third home since coming into the league back in 1960. There is a small window to win a title for the fans in Oakland, and they have the roster to do just that.
Since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr has established himself as one of the best in the game. In fact, he was on his way to a possible MVP season when he was injured against the Colts on Christmas Eve. He is healthy heading into his fourth season, and has an incredible cast of talent around him.
This offseason, the Raiders bolstered a run game that finished No. 6 in the NFL last season. Oakland was able to sway Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, and will now have Beast Mode behind Carr on Sundays. He will be joined by second-year players DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, who both figure to play key roles in the run game.
At wide receiver, the Raiders may have the best tandem in the division. Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper can both change the game at any time, with Cooper being one of the best young wideouts in the game. At tight end, the team brought in Jared Cook this offseason, and the veteran should give the team another playmaking weapon in the Red Zone.
Just as it was last season, the Oakland Raiders offensive line is loaded. Left tackle Donald Penn held out for a little under 30 days this preseason, but he came back prior to Week 4. He leads a cast that includes Pro Bowl talent, giving this offense a group up front that cannot be matched in the AFC.
The defense has long been the bugaboo for the Raiders, though they tried to get better via the draft this offseason. Defnsive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes appears to be the real deal, and in the secondary, the Raiders have talented rookies in Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu. Conley and Melifonwu will look to bring depth to a unit that could prove to be the difference between a division title, and another Wildcard finish.
All eyes will be on middle linebacker Marquel Lee, who will look to lead a unit that many believe could be a weakness for the Raiders. Outside linebacker Bruce Irvin is a solid edge rusher, who teamed with Mack, will give the Raiders opponents fits this season. If the Raiders can be better in the middle of the defense, and against the pass, they could be the class of the AFC in 2017.
The schedule is tough, as the AFC West will have to play the AFC and NFC East this season. Aside from those matchups, the Raiders will also do battle against Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, and Washington Redskins, all teams that should vie for a playoff spot this season. However, if Carr stays healthy, and Lynch resembles anything close to the player he was on the Seattle Seahawks, the Raiders should have enough talent to earn a bye in the AFC Playoffs this season.
X-Factor
The X-Factor for the 2017 Oakland Raiders will be Derek Carr, as the 2016 proved that this team cannot score points without him under center. The team did bring in E.J. Manuel to be the backup quarterback, bringing in better depth, but this team will only go as far as Carr will take them this season.
Not only is Carr an incredible leader on the field, but also off of it, and his teammates view him as the unquestioned leader of this team. With a dominant offensive line, incredible receivers, and a veteran at running back, this Raiders offense is going to be special this season. However, without Carr under center, they are a nine-win team at best.
Quarterback play in the NFL is not as deep as it used to be, and the Raiders have one of the best in the business. He is the best signal-caller in the division, yes, even better than Philip Rivers, and the 2017 season could bring his first MVP Award.
Best Case
The best case scenario for the Oakland Raiders is that their 2017 regular season looks a lot like 2016 did up until Week 16. If they can win 12 or more games, they should be able to capture their first AFC West title since the 2002 season. They will have to battle it out with Kansas City, who owned them in two games last season.
The defense has to be better, as the schedule is too good for them to look like swiss cheese in the secondary. They did a nice job bringing in help up front on defense, and Mario Edwards Jr. should be a great player if he can stay healthy. The best case is someone steps up and leads the secondary, as it is the biggest weakness heading into 2017.
It is not rare for young players to step up and lead, and once he is healthy, first round pick Gareon Conley could do just that. The team spent big money to pluck Sean Smith away from Kansas City prior to the 2016 season, and that has looked like a bad move. Maybe he steps up in 2017, but if the preseason is any indication, this is going to be a frustrating unit again this season.
Worst Case
The injury to Carr was a fluke last season, though that happening again would be a worst case scenario. However, for the purpose of this piece, we will look at a worst case scenario that is more likely to happen. The AFC West is loaded this season, and if both the Chiefs and Denver Broncos are as good as advertised, the Raiders could very well fall out of a playoff spot.
That is not likely to happen, but the Broncos do have an elite defense once again this season. The Raiders defense, not so much, so it will be interesting to see how they do against elite quarterbacks in 2017. If the defense cannot get stops, a nine-win season is not out of the realm of possibility.
Lynch is a 30-plus year old running back, and the questions at middle linebacker, and in the secondary are scary. Sure, this team has enough firepower on offense to win 13 games, but it also has a defense that could find them outside of playoff contention in a worst case scenario.
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Final Word
This is a special Oakland Raiders team, with a signal-caller who is the definition of franchise quarterback. The organization has done a great job putting the right pieces around him on the offensive side of the ball, including what could be the best offensive line in football. The defense is going to give Raiders fans fits this season, but there is too much offensive firepower for them to finish outside of the playoffs.
Look for the Raiders to win at least 11 games this season, though most of those are going to be nail-biters. Carr proved he can win close games, and with the game on the line, there are not many better quarterbacks in football. Khalil Mack was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season, and he just may make it two in a row in 2017.