The Oakland Raiders are coming into the season with sort-of high expectations, as the team made a number of improvements over the offseason, but everyone in the city kind of knows the truth: this is no playoff team.
Last season the Raiders went just 4-12 and after getting rid of Carson Palmer at quarterback they have the untested Matt Flynn after a trade with the Seahawks along with Tyler Wilson and Terrelle Pryor and while Flynn could be good, he still is an unproven quantity. Reggie McKenzie did a good job of rebuilding the roster after taking things down over the past few years, but it won't be more than a two game improvement, if that.
The Raiders are in a tough-ish division and there are plenty if question marks, including on both the offensive and defensive line. The team has added talent to a number of areas, but there is still plenty they need to work on, including at running back after Latavius Murray was but on IR. The team should be better than last year, but that isn't saying much after they won just four games.
Head coach Dennis Allen should make it through another year no matter what, unless it becomes a huge disaster, as the team is still working on developing and one of two more years it could be a solid playoff contender. The team added plenty of talent on defense, but it remains to be seen if it will work as a unit. The Raiders signed Charles Woodson, Tracy Porter, Mike Jenkins, Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett in the offseason and all those players should have significant roles on defense.
McKenzie added some solid talent in the draft as well, but that will take some time to develop too, including quarterback Tyler Wilson. The team picked DJ Hayden, Menelik Watson, running back Latavius Murray, wideout Brice Butler, as well as tight ends Nick Kasa and Mychal Rivera, but it remains to be seen how much those guys will contribute. A sticking point will be the running game and whether Darren McFadden can stay healthy.
Last season the team ranked 28th in rushing and eighth in passing, while the defense was 20th in passing yards allowed and 18th in rushing yards allowed. It won't be much this season, but an improvement at 6-10.
Prediction: 6-10, third in AFC West
