The Story of the 2015 Oakland Raiders

(photo credit: axs.com)

After years of mediocrity, the Raiders were showing teams what they were really made of last season. Quarterback Derek Carr, with the help of wide receiver Amari Cooper, had a breakout season in 2015, throwing for just under 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, they were competing with two of the hottest teams in the NFL in the Kansas City Chiefs, who won 10 straight games to close out the regular season, and the eventual world champion Denver Broncos.

The Raiders would finish the season 7-9, their best finish since 2011, when they finished 8-8. This team didn't play like an 7-9 team or even an 8-8 team, however. They played great football, but they were competing against two hot teams in the division.

In 2016, however, the Broncos team will be much lesser than that that won Super Bowl 50 and the Chiefs will probably not win 10 straight games again. The Raiders have to clear the few bugs they have to compete and have a chance to win the AFC West.