Spayer419
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In October it looked like it would be another typical season for the Raiders. Which is to say, it would be a season full of humiliating losses, bungled play-calling and minimal progression from a promising young core. Oakland was truly the black hole of the NFL, as the Raiders sat at 0-4 early in the season.
And then a funny thing happened. Under a new ownership group, the Raiders managed to upset Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Curious, but not unthinkable. Denver has struggled this season as Manning's best days are clearly behind him.
Naturally, the Raiders positive momentum was subsided by a bye week, but then Oakland pulled out an overtime win against then division-leading San Diego. Raider nation fiercly debated what was more surprising: that their front seven had so successfully stymied leading rusher Melvin Gordon, or that Derek Carr performed so masterfully in the clutch.
The win streak had begun as one became two, two became three, three turned into four and four climbed to five. When the Raiders travelled to face the 8-1 Lions in Detroit, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the streak would come to an end. But these aren't your father's Raiders. Or maybe, they are.
If your father's Raiders were the ones that ran roughshod of the NFL in the early 80's, then the 2015 version definitely looked familiar when they shut down the Lions' offense en route to a 24-10 win. It was the Raiders best win of the season, setting the stage for a primetime showdown with Tennessee on Twitch TV. The Raiders took advantage of this grand stage with their most impressive win of the season, a 24-0 route of the Titans.
The defense has been the driving force behind this 7-game winning streak, in which opposing teams are managing just 13.75 points per game. But the offense, lead behind rookie of the year candidate Amari Cooper, is making strides too. After being outscored 104-53 in it's opening four games, the Raiders are outscoring teams by an average margin of 12 points in wins.
After a slow start, Cooper has become one of the most dangerous weapons in the AFC
"We feel that we're finally starting to click, finally hitting our groove," said Cooper. "The confidence level in our meeting rooms, in the locker room, is through the roof. We have guys that have succeeded in college, and individually as pros. Now we're pulling it all together and really becoming an elite team."
The road to the playoffs won't be easy for Oakland. They currently sit at 7-4, in a three-way tie with the Chiefs and Chargers. The Raiders do hold the tiebreaker currently with a 2-0 divisional record and a head-to-head win over the Chiefs, but there's a ton of divisional football left to be played.
Next week the Raiders will host the Chiefs in a battle for divisional supremacy, but the West could be won in the Week 17 matchup in Arrowhead. Oakland's trip to San Diego on a Thursday night in Week 16 will be a pivotal contest as well. And don't sleep on the computer-lead Packers or Broncos either.
"We have a tough road ahead, but we're confident," said DPOTY candidate Aldon Smith. "We feel as if no one can beat us right now. The Chiefs will have a chance to prove us wrong. But we'll be ready."
Smith has been a reclamation project for Oakland, and leads the NFL in sacks with 11
Xxclaywilliamxx cnorys4
[USER=636]pack1797 majesty95 BlackPaw NightHawkTH32 zbenjamin85 woodsmall12
Kwarren3 Glen Cieske Konvict27 Colefolks319
Croutard Spayer419 BigTexas18[/USER]
And then a funny thing happened. Under a new ownership group, the Raiders managed to upset Peyton Manning and the Broncos. Curious, but not unthinkable. Denver has struggled this season as Manning's best days are clearly behind him.
Naturally, the Raiders positive momentum was subsided by a bye week, but then Oakland pulled out an overtime win against then division-leading San Diego. Raider nation fiercly debated what was more surprising: that their front seven had so successfully stymied leading rusher Melvin Gordon, or that Derek Carr performed so masterfully in the clutch.
The win streak had begun as one became two, two became three, three turned into four and four climbed to five. When the Raiders travelled to face the 8-1 Lions in Detroit, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the streak would come to an end. But these aren't your father's Raiders. Or maybe, they are.
If your father's Raiders were the ones that ran roughshod of the NFL in the early 80's, then the 2015 version definitely looked familiar when they shut down the Lions' offense en route to a 24-10 win. It was the Raiders best win of the season, setting the stage for a primetime showdown with Tennessee on Twitch TV. The Raiders took advantage of this grand stage with their most impressive win of the season, a 24-0 route of the Titans.
The defense has been the driving force behind this 7-game winning streak, in which opposing teams are managing just 13.75 points per game. But the offense, lead behind rookie of the year candidate Amari Cooper, is making strides too. After being outscored 104-53 in it's opening four games, the Raiders are outscoring teams by an average margin of 12 points in wins.
After a slow start, Cooper has become one of the most dangerous weapons in the AFC
"We feel that we're finally starting to click, finally hitting our groove," said Cooper. "The confidence level in our meeting rooms, in the locker room, is through the roof. We have guys that have succeeded in college, and individually as pros. Now we're pulling it all together and really becoming an elite team."
The road to the playoffs won't be easy for Oakland. They currently sit at 7-4, in a three-way tie with the Chiefs and Chargers. The Raiders do hold the tiebreaker currently with a 2-0 divisional record and a head-to-head win over the Chiefs, but there's a ton of divisional football left to be played.
Next week the Raiders will host the Chiefs in a battle for divisional supremacy, but the West could be won in the Week 17 matchup in Arrowhead. Oakland's trip to San Diego on a Thursday night in Week 16 will be a pivotal contest as well. And don't sleep on the computer-lead Packers or Broncos either.
"We have a tough road ahead, but we're confident," said DPOTY candidate Aldon Smith. "We feel as if no one can beat us right now. The Chiefs will have a chance to prove us wrong. But we'll be ready."
Smith has been a reclamation project for Oakland, and leads the NFL in sacks with 11
Xxclaywilliamxx cnorys4
[USER=636]pack1797 majesty95 BlackPaw NightHawkTH32 zbenjamin85 woodsmall12
Kwarren3 Glen Cieske Konvict27 Colefolks319
Croutard Spayer419 BigTexas18[/USER]
