The Oakland Raiders have been playing great football lately, currently sitting at 5-4 and in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Coach Gruden has his Oakland Raiders team playing better than just about anyone expected, winning games against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Chargers. Derek Carr and the offense are playing better than ever, and although the defense is struggling, they have stepped up in big moments on multiple occasions.
Heading into the season, Oakland sported the toughest schedule in the league, as they played two home games to open up the year, and then hit the road for Week 3 through 8. Returning to the Coliseum for a Week 9 matchup with the Detroit Lions, the Raiders took care of business, and five days later, beat division rival Los Angeles inside the Coli as well.
Now, sitting at 5-4, the Raiders are a legitimate playoff contender, and have completely changed the narrative surrounding the franchise. Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock have established a roster that can hang with any team in the NFL, and their schedule gets a lot easier looking ahead.
There is still plenty of football left to play this season, but let’s take a look at four reasons the Raiders will make the playoffs this season.