Prior to the 2017 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders appeared to be on the verge of joining the league’s elite. Derek Carr and Khalil Mack are clear stars that can carry the Raiders franchise for years to come, but so far have not looked like a premier team.
At 3-5, Oakland is tied with the Los Angeles Chargers for last in the AFC West and in real danger of missing the playoffs. According to Matt Schneidman of Mercury News, Jack Del Rio is aware the team needs to kick it in high gear:
It’s a faith thing. You either believe or you don’t. I think that those things that all kind of lead into that mojo that you see, those are all the little things that add up,” Del Rio said.
“Like I’ve said many times, we’ve got a prideful group of guys. We’re just not that far away, but we have to get it going. It’s past time, really. The second half is here and we’ve got some ground to cover.”
Del Rio has been vocal about the Raiders needing to find their “mojo” again, but it is easier said than done given their struggles on both sides of the ball. The offense is unimaginative while the defense is prone to giving up big plays every week.
The silver and black play the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 and it is a must-win game if they hope to get back to the playoffs. The Raiders are running out of time to turn their season around and it will be interesting to see how they come out against the Dolphins.
