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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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher (72) blocks Oakland Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) late in the fourth quarter of an NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs on December 30, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Conquering the Chiefs and Chargers

Dating back to realignment in 2002, only the Cleveland Browns (24-77-1) own a worst divisional record than the Silver and Black (34-68). In ‘02, the Oakland Raiders finished 11-5, won the AFC West and were a combined 4-2 vs. the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and the Chargers. Subtract that figure and the club owns a 30-66 win-loss record vs. their divisional neighbors the last 16 seasons.

How about a more modern spin? In each of the past four seasons, the team has split its two-game set with the Broncos. Meanwhile, the Raiders are 2-10 vs. the Chiefs since head coach Andy Reid took over in Kansas City. This past season, the club put up a combined 75 points on Jon Gruden’s squad. And after winning four straight meetings between the clubs from 2015-15, Oakland has been swept by the Bolts each of the past two seasons – limiting the Raiders to 16 or fewer points in each encounter.

Of course, both Kansas City and Los Angeles finished with 12 wins this past season. The Chiefs won the AFC West for the third straight year and reached the playoffs for a fourth consecutive seasons. Anthony Lynn’s squad reached the postseason this past year for the first time since ‘13.

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Can Gruden and company make headway in the AFC West? Kansas City is fielding a new defense and the Chargers haven’t won a division title since 2009. You don’t have to win a division title to capture a Lombardi Trophy. But making strides against the two of the better teams in the conference would show how far the Raiders have come.

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