The Oakland Raiders had their most successful season in over a decade in 2016, going 12-4 and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2002-03.
They fell short of reaching their goal of making the Super Bowl though, as Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr went down with a broken leg in Week 16.
They were also spelled by some other injuries, including Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn, who missed the first game of his 10-year career with a knee injury when the Raiders took on the Houston Texans in the Wildcard round of the playoffs.
With rookie quarterback Connor Cook making his first career start, the result was a 27-14 loss effectively ending the Raiders season.
Raiders fans are already looking forward to next season though, as with a healthy Carr and the core nucleus of the team all returning, the Super Bowl aspirations will certainly carryover.
Among the people who believe the Raiders have an opportunity to do that is Raiders Hall of Famer Marcus Allen, who believes the Raiders will be even better next season, via 95.7 The Game:
“I expect them to do as well or better (next year),” Allen said.
“They certainly have to get better on defense,” he said. “They have to get the pass rush up the middle and not rely on the outside rush so much, and they’ll be much better. The (defensive backs) will be a heck of a lot better too if they get the pass rush that’s necessary.”
Allen was a member of the Raiders from 1982-92, and was named a Pro Bowler five times and selected to the All-Pro First Team on two separate occasions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.