The Oakland Raiders, through 11 games with five to go, have compiled five wins, a higher total than each of the past three seasons (2012, 2013 and 2014).
Much of that credit has to go to new head coach Jack Del Rio, whose 30 years of NFL experience as either a coach or a player has seemed to shift the culture in Oakland.
“We know they’re an improved football team from what they were last year,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the Raiders this week. “You could see them improving last year. They’ve even taken a few more steps forward this year, we get it.