Oakland Raiders: AFC West Wide Open in 2015

By Jonathan George | Jul 4, 2015

It seems that with each passing week, there is more and more evidence that the Oakland Raiders should be very excited about their chances of grabbing the AFC West in 2015. While the Raiders have been quietly building their team from the top down during the off-season, just about every other team in their division has been taking small and large steps in the wrong direction. Whether you’re talking about issues on the field or off it, the AFC West could be more open than it has been in a decade.

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The Denver Broncos haven’t dealt with a ton of issues off the field, but they have made some head scratching personnel moves that seemingly resulted in them coming back to the rest of the pack. First, they could not re-sign tight end Julius Thomas. Then they lost lineman Orlando Franklin to the Chargers. Finally, they watched defensive tackle Terrance Knighton leave for Washington They have major concerns at all three positions; two of them directly impact their aging quarterback Peyton Manning.

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On top of all that, they had a major coaching and scheme change that will likely affect their offense and defense. That, coupled with the longevity and depth concerns at various positions, adds up to the Broncos being highly doubtful to repeat as AFC West champs. Oakland, as well as the rest of the division, has to be optimistic about their chances of passing Denver.

The San Diego Chargers have problems as well. While they have done a good job of reloading at the running back and linebacker positions, there are other issues they need to be concerned with. There are team leaders that have major contract problems. Philip Rivers is unsigned past this season and his future will likely weigh heavily on his psyche. Per ESPN’s Eric D. Williams, safety Eric Weddle is very unhappy with his contract, and has questioned the team’s desire to retain him.

The Chargers aren’t sure how much longer they will be in San Diego. The possibility they will be playing in another city after 2015 can have a direct impact on player performance this season, despite what management thinks. To be fair, the Raiders have a similar concern, but their standing seems less up in the air compared to the Chargers.

Lastly, the team just learned tight end Antonio Gates will be suspended the first 4 games of the season for violating the NFL’s P.E.D. guidelines. Gates has been the heart and soul of the offense, especially when it comes to the passing game. He had a big comeback season in 2014, and was expected to be a key contributor this year. His loss immediately puts the Chargers hopes of a big year in peril.

Lastly, The Kansas City Chiefs have been steady in the off-season. They have lost some big talent in center Rodney Hudson; a big addition to the Raiders at a position of need for Oakland. They let wide receiver Dwayne Bowe walk after another lackluster season, and while receiver Jeremy Maclin is an obvious upgrade he has struggled staying on the field for 16 games a year throughout his career. The Chiefs will battle for the division as well, but aren’t a lock to run away from anyone else.

While all of this has been occurring, the Raiders have been getting stronger and stronger each month. They added a ton of talent via the draft on offense and strong players on defense. They had some good free agency signings; good, not great, as they missed on a couple of franchise players. But most importantly, they have avoided all of the drama that many of they opponents have been caught in.

Positive drug tests. Contract disputes. Injury issues. This list goes on and on, and Oakland’s recipe for success this year involves the continued avoidance of these types of headlines. With training camp coming up, it is imperative that the Raiders focus on growing as a team and blocking out all of the distractions.

The AFC West can be had. The Oakland Raiders have a real chance in 2015 because they have avoided all of the drama that can sabotage a team’s chances.

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