After a dispiriting loss in Week 11 to the New England Patriots, concerns about the Oakland Raiders continue to bubble despite such high hopes prior to the 2017 NFL season. The Raiders were a popular Super Bowl pick before the 2017 campaign began, but are now looking like they may miss the postseason altogether.
Oakland has looked flat on both sides of the field for much of the year and it has resulted in a few ugly losses. While the Patriots are emerging as the favorite to win it all again, it is no excuse for the Raiders’ poor performance in their recent game.
However, according to Ann Killion of San Francisco Chronicle, Jack Del Rio believes his team still has a shot at a division title:
Every year is different,” Del Rio said. “We’ve got a very competitive division. The Chiefs haven’t run away, with us and the Chargers and the Broncos all kind of hovering there, still with a chance I think.”
The AFC West has been bunched up in recent weeks thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs sudden struggles. At 4-6, the Raiders have a slim chance to perhaps limp into the AFC Wild Card if they can manage to find their identity.
Derek Carr has already stated the silver and black are not mailing it in, but it remains to be seen if they turn their fortunes around. They get an opportunity to do so when they face off against the Denver Broncos in Week 12.
