5 reasons Raiders can win the Super Bowl this year

CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 16: Rodney Hudson #61 and Marcell Ateman #88 of the Oakland Raiders take the field for their game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 16, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Raiders 30-16. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

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GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 18: Gareon Conley #21 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates an interception with Maurice Hurst #73 in the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

2. Defense finally emerges as factor

The last time the Oakland Raiders ranked higher than 20th in the NFL in total yards allowed per game was in 2012. The team finished 18th in the league in total defense.

The last time the club finished in the Top 10 in fewest yards allowed per contest was in ’06, when only the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars were better.

Summing up the team’s recent futility on this side of the ball would be the 2016 season. Defensive end Khalil Mack was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the club would finish 12-4 and clinch a wild card berth. But the personal effort by the current member of the Chicago Bears couldn’t overcome the fact that the Raiders finished 26th in the league that year in total yards allowed per contest – 23rd vs. the run and 24th vs. the pass. Oakland allowed 385 points and 45 offensive touchdowns.

With Mack traded away last year and the team still trying to find itself on defense, the 2018 Raiders allowed the most points in the league, finished with a paltry 13 sacks, totaled only 17 takeaways and allowed 52 offensive TDs –including 36 through the air.

So head coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther have their work cut out for them. A year ago, the team drafted three defensive linemen (P.J. Hall, Arden Key and Maurice Hurst) and with the fourth overall selection in April added University of Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell. There’s newcomers in veteran linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Brandon Marshall and free safety Lamarcus Joyner. So can this unit gel quickly and can the young players in the trenches rejuvenate the pass rush? Safe to say it’s a very tall order.

Next: No. 1

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