Just Blog Baby
FanSided

4 reasons why the Oakland Raiders will contend in the AFC West

By Nick Ellis

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass under pressure by inside linebacker Brandon Marshall #54 of the Denver Broncos in the first half of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders looks to pass under pressure by inside linebacker Brandon Marshall #54 of the Denver Broncos in the first half of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 25: Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 25, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 25: Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets during their game at MetLife Stadium on November 25, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Improvements on the offensive line

One of the main issues with the Raiders last season was their offensive line, and the AFC West has some incredible pass rushers. If the Raiders wanted to have a chance to win games in the AFC West, they needed to protect Derek Carr from players like Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Von Miller, Bradley Chubb, Chris Jones, and Frank Clark.

Last season, the Raiders did not have the offensive line to help Derek Carr out with any of these players, but times have changed. Unfortunately, the Raiders will be without Incognito and Jackson for the first games against the Chiefs and Broncos, but once those guys get back, the Raiders have the talent to keep them away from their QB.

Outside of the division, the Raiders will play other great pass rushing teams such as the Bears and Jaguars, but the Raiders have built an offensive line that has the potential to hold those teams off. When teams such as the Broncos, Chargers, Jaguars, and Bears struggle to get to the QB, they struggle all around.

It is a big task to ask Trent Brown to hold off Khalil Mack and Von Miller, but he and Gabe Jackson showed that they could do it in joint practices against the Rams when facing Aaron Donald, and the Raiders paid Trent Brown the big bucks for this reason.

Home/Las Vegas Raiders News