Oakland Raiders

Last year saw a bizarre occasion: the Oakland Raiders went 6-0 in their division, but managed a meagre 8-8 finish, missing the playoffs yet again. They’ve been knocking on the door for years, but having shipped their best player, Nnamdi Asomugha to the Philadelphia Eagles over the summer, you could be forgiven for thinking the Silver and Black might be going backwards, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Playing in the softest division in the AFC doesn’t hurt. The Chargers are perennial favourites to win the AFC West, but a year after the Chiefs ran-out surprise winners, you have to be prepared for surprises.

The Raiders have a real shot of making the playoffs this year, and they could be joined by some unfamiliar faces. 2011 could finally see the turnaround of several maligned franchises: the Lions, Browns, Bills, Rams, Texans, Buccaneers and Raiders are all looking like teams on the up and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see three of those seven in the mix come January. The Raiders are one of the three.

Basically, all they’ve got to do is match the Chargers game for game and beat them in their head to head contests – a feat of which I believe them to be capable. On the back of solid quarterbacking from Jason Campbell, electrifying running from Darren McFadden and field-stretching moves from a pair of burners at receiver, the Raiders are ready to take the next step.

Verdict: 10-6, tied with the Chargers on record but winning both head-to-head encounters and getting into the playoffs at the expense of Phillip Rivers team and possibly Norv Turner’s job.


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