During training camp, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr talked about approaching the line of scrimmage with his teammates and seeing offensive firepower to his right, his left and behind him.
For Carr, it was in stark contrast to previous seasons when the support system was incomplete and ineffective.
And it’s why he and the Raiders think they are in a much better position to navigate the final six games compared to seasons past.
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Three months after Carr explained the confidence he felt with the talent around him, the Raiders are in second place in the AFC West with a 6-4 record that puts them seventh in the conference playoff standings. If the season ended today, the Raiders would play the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round.
It’s eerily similar to where they were last season at this time — 6-4 and their place in the playoff race.