It looks like the past draft class was pretty good. The Chiefs Raiders games should be fun.

NFL definitely chooses winners and losers via officiating bias. I simply won't argue with you on that point. The 2016 Raiders got a LOT of help via officiating that I simply never thought I'd ever see based on the Raiders history with officials.

However, if you watched the Raiders/Chargers game Thursday night, it was CLEAR which team was getting the officiating BIAS, and it wasn't the Raiders. We had two INTs called back due to penalties that were at best ticky tack. One was for offsides and replay showed the player was lined up correctly and not offsides, that one lead directly to a Chargers TD on the very next play.

Raiders also get called for the very worst kind of ticky tack holding calls on the OL. Stuff that makes no difference to the play, and you never see called for teams like KC with a "Magic" QB. Multiple drives are hindered or ended with this crap.

As to the Raiders playing better this year? It's easy. Josh Jacobs is a MFing stud. Kid has a chance to be the best RB in the NFL over the next few years. That combined with our HUGE OL that is playing fantastically is the entire reason we are doing well. Our D, outside the Chargers game, has been pretty darn bad. Though both rookie DE's are starting to get to the QB and that could make for a big change on that side.

This. Look at how the chargers and Rams are overachieving this year.

Oh wait.

100 million dollar contract says YES he would have taken the job

Raiders had a great offseason. A lot of their draft picks are making impacts and guys like Darren Waller were complete steals.

Gruden is still a good coach and is moving that team in the right direction.

It should be mentioned that the Raiders extra 1st rd pick from the Bears is now a top 10 pick.... and climbing.

Havent paid close attention to Mack this year but I dont think hes done shit. This will end up being a great trade for Gruden, if it isnt acknowledged already.

Yep, I feel the Raiders will become a good rival again. Eh, it happens.

Gruden is do a good job. Raiders are still rebuilding. Their offense has a nice core of players in Carr, Jacobs, Waller, and that mauling OT from NE. Their defense will in all likelihood be the focus of the offseason. If they draft well and pick up a couple solid free agents on the DL, they will likely unseat LAC for the #2 team in the AFCW. (<--- They may have done it already but it's really close. LAC injury bug is just absurd.)

Raiders are in a good spot. (Right behind Mahomes). And I'm sure Gruden likes the challenge of unseating Mahomes.

I loved Josh Jacobs pre draft and thought he was a faster version of Kareem Hunt. Dude is killing it.

We need to look for a back like him next spring.