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Raiders most surprising seasons by decade, 1960-2010s

By Brad Weiss

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE - This image has been converted to black and white) Oakland Raiders helmet is seen on the field after the game between Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE - This image has been converted to black and white) Oakland Raiders helmet is seen on the field after the game between Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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Raiders vs Saints September, 2016 (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Raiders vs Saints September, 2016 (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Raiders most surprising seasons by decade, 1960-2010s

The 2016 Oakland Raiders

Jack Del Rio landed in Oakland as the team’s head coach prior to the 2015 NFL season, taking over a franchise that had not had a winning season since 2002. Sure, there had been some 8-8 seasons along the way, but nothing resembling a team that had a legitimate shot at doing any damage in the AFC.

All of that changed in Year 2 under Del Rio, as they became a team  to beat in the AFC, starting with a Week 1 victory that saw the team go for the win against the New Orleans Saints. After pulling within one on a Derek Carr to Seth Roberts touchdown with under a minute remaining, the Raiders went for the win, and not the tie, as Carr hit Michael Crabtree to seal the 35-34 victory.

That set a chain of events that saw the team come from behind time and time again, leading to a 12-win season, and a shot at a Super Bowl. However, Carr broke his leg on Christmas Eve, ending the Raiders chances at doing anything in the playoffs, and squandering one of the better seasons in recent memory.

Next. 2020 Las Vegas Raiders 53-man roster projection entering training camp. dark

The loss of Carr was devastating, as Matt McGloin was injured in a Week 17 loss to the Denver Broncos, and Connor Cook had to make his first NFL start in the playoffs against a tough Houston Texans defense. That 2016 team was special, sending seven guys to the Pro Bowl, and seeing Khalil Mack win Defensive Player of the Year, and the team has not had a winning season again since.

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