Raiders named the No. 1 team that could surprise everyone in 2020
Moe Moton, who does a tremendous job at Bleacher Report, recently listed his top-7 teams that he feels could surprise everybody this season. The list was put together with the Arizona Cardinals at No. 7, thanks to the team getting DeAndre Hopkins to compliment Kyler Murray on offense.
Teams like the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears followed the Cardinals, with Raiders AFC West rival Los Angeles coming in at No. 3. The Atlanta Falcons were the second-ranked team on Moton’s list, and rightfully so, as they closed the 2019 campaign on a strong note, and should be a problem in the NFC in 2020.
The No. 1 team that could surprise everybody, however, according to Moton was the Las Vegas Raiders, led by seventh-year starter Derek Carr. Moton points to all the additions the team made on both sides of the ball this offseason, including at linebacker, and feels the added playoff format will benefit them.
"With an added seventh seed and notable roster upgrades, the Silver and Black could make it back to the playoffs as a wild-card team."
The Raiders had major issues on both sides of the ball down the stretch in 2019, losing five of their last six games and seeing their quarterback get booed out of the Coliseum. It will be a fresh start for Carr in Vegas, and he has a stockpile of weapons around him, as well as a defense that should keep them in games.
Most national media are not too high on the Raiders this season, which is understandable considering they have had one winning season since 2002. Still, this is a team that has gotten better since Mayock’s arrival, and if they take a step forward like they did in 2019, their first playoff berth since 2016 is on the horizon.