Oakland Raiders Need This One Big Thing To Succeed In 2016

The Oakland Raiders took a big leap forward last season in posting as many wins as the previous two seasons combined – but there is still one big piece of the puzzle they need to figure out soon if they are to succeed.

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In 2015, the Oakland Raiders improved in a million different ways over their showing the previous season. From their running game to the passing game to the defense, the Raiders showed that they are becoming a team to be reckoned with and one the rest of the league cannot take lightly anymore.

With a beefed up, talented roster, the Raiders seem poised to make some real noise this season. Despite all of those improvements though, there is one key piece of the puzzle they need to figure out soon – a killer instinct.

For all of the good things they did last season, the one thing the Raiders lacked was the ability to put teams away for good. They lacked the killer instinct needed to close out close games. That lack of a finishing move can be seen in the fact that the team lost five games by six points or less – three of which they held a lead and one that was tied with just over a minute remaining in the game.

If Oakland had been able to show better late in games last season, the conversation about this team this offseason might be radically different. And just to underscore the point, let’s take a look back at those games.

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In week four, the Raiders squared off with the Chicago Bears and were clinging to a one point lead with just two minutes remaining in the game – the Bears responded with a long drive and kicked the winning field goal with just seconds left on the clock.

The following week, the Raiders had hated division rival Denver at home. It was a tough, defensive game and neither team was able to put much on the scoreboard. Despite that, the Raiders had a two point lead with just under seven minutes to go. Derek Carr responded by throwing an interception to cornerback Chris Harris who returned it 74 yards for the go ahead score, putting Denver up 16-7. A late field goal by Sebastian Janikowski cut it to 16-10, but the Raiders got no closer.

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In week eight, the Raiders took on long time nemesis Pittsburgh. It was a high flying, high scoring, back and forth game. It was exciting football to watch as Oakland tied the score at 35 with just over a minute left in the game.

Overtime seemed imminent until quarterback Landry Jones, filling in for an injured Ben Roethlisberger, hit Antonio Brown for a 57 yard catch and run that allowed the Steelers to kick the game winner with two seconds remaining.

A week eleven game against the Lions was another low scoring affair in which Oakland’s offense wasn’t exactly lighting it up. Still, they held a 13-9 lead at the end of the third quarter – a lead that the offense couldn’t manage to build upon and the defense couldn’t hold. Detroit went on to win the game 18-13.

That lack of a killer instinct is perhaps even more demonstrative – and worrisome – in their week seven game against division rival San Diego. The Raiders entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 31 point lead (37-6). And yet, the team seemed to take the entire fourth quarter off as the offense did not add to their lead, and the defense let the Chargers winnow most all of it away. 23 unanswered fourth quarter points allowed San Diego to cut the lead dramatically and get back into the game.

The Raiders went on to win the game 37-29, but it is – or should have been – alarming to see San Diego get even that close in the end. It certainly highlights the fact that the Raiders – be it due to poor execution, or play calling focused on “not losing” instead of “winning” – had nothing when it came to putting an opponent away for good.

Now, of course the Raiders will have to perform well in all facets of the game to build on the momentum they started last season. All of their youngsters will have to take another step forward in their development and their veterans are going to have to play like they’re capable of playing.

But they’re also going to need to instill a killer instinct. This team is going to have to get mean. Get nasty. When they have their foot on somebody’s throat, they’re going to have to learn to step down even harder rather than let their opponent get back up off the mat.

Or, as newcomer Kelechi Osemele put it, they’re going to have to make teams “afraid to play the Raiders” again.

In Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton Jr., the Raiders have two coaches who played with that killer instinct. Who had that attitude and edge to their game. They knew how to finish people and made sure they did it. That’s what these Raiders need.

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With veteran acquisitions like Osemele, Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith, and Reggie Nelson, the team and fans must hope that edginess and attitude comes with them – and that it’s something they can infuse within the minds and bodies of their young guns.

This team cannot be afraid to crush the life and spirit out of their opponent. And if they are going to have the sort of success in 2016 many believe they’re capable of, they need to learn how to do just that, very quickly.