Jon Gruden has Raiders looking like playoff contenders

The Oakland Raiders completely changed up their offense this offseason and had to part ways with their biggest acquisition, but, against the odds, they currently stand as legitimate playoff contenders in the AFC.

Jon Gruden has been a magnet for criticism as the Oakland Raiders head coach, whether it’s because of his massive contract, decision to trade his two best players last season, unorthodox first draft choice, ambitious signings, or dubious record as a quarterback guru.

But through all the criticism and skepticism, Gruden has managed to pull through by turning the Raiders into an actual playoff contender after Week 5.

The Raiders probably benefited from facing Chase Daniel instead of Mitchell Trubisky, but defeating a preseason Super Bowl contender coming off of a 12-win season is no short feat. Oakland managed to withstand a third-quarter comeback from the Chicago Bears, score a critical go-ahead touchdown in the fourth, and hang on for a potentially season-changing 24-21 victory over a reeling Bears team.

Now, the Raiders are 3-2, and they could be second in the division if the Los Angeles Chargers falter in a division rivalry matchup with Joe Flacco and the winless Denver Broncos.

That the Raiders have a winning record and are in position to potentially steal a Wild Card spot at the end of the season is quite remarkable. Even after the Raiders built an offense with Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Darren Waller, and first-round running back Josh Jacobs around former MVP candidate Derek Carr, essentially nobody expected the Raiders to seriously challenge for a playoff spot. After all, they are in a division with two top teams in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers.

While the Raiders won’t give the Chiefs nightmares, they could finish Week 5 with a better record than the Chargers. And they’ve earned a 3-2 record by beating two legitimate double-digit-win teams in the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears in back-to-back games.

Even though Carr and the passing game predictably struggled against the mighty Bears defense, the Raiders found a way to put points on the board through their running game. Rookie back Jacobs was magnificent, bulldozing his way for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, with DeAndre Washington chipping in a touchdown on his own.

And the defense stood tall, owning the Bears running game while making crucial plays as a pass defense. No play was more critical than the late fourth quarter interception recorded by young cornerback Gareon Conley, who ended Chase Daniel’s dreams of a furious comeback that would have completely opened a quarterback controversy in Chicago.

Conley’s interception not only changed the narrative in Chicago, but it’s also spun a more positive story around the Raiders 2019 season. There’s a big difference between 3-2 and 2-3, and it’s in fine margins such as the ones in this win over the Bears. The Raiders quietly have some real standouts on their roster, and while they have their deficiencies on defense and as a passing offense, they just might have enough moxie under Gruden to pull off an unlikely playoff appearance.