Oakland Raiders Trash Talk Machine In Midseason Form

Few franchise have been better throughout NFL history at talking trash to their rivals than the Oakland Raiders.  They already got off to a great start.

Expectations are significantly elevated for the Silver and Black going into the 2016 season.  They have a young core of stars in the making with Derek Carr and Amari Cooper on offense and Khalil Mack on the defense.  Since then they’ve added a slew of talented and young complimentary pieces to help them excel including Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith and Karl Joseph.

After finishing 7-9 the year before, both coaches and players believe this team is ready to post the first winning season since 2002, culminating in a playoff birth.  Their confidence is so high in fact that the team Twitter page had no qualms about taking a shot at the defending champion Denver Broncos, their long-timer bitter rivals.

The confidence likely doesn’t just come from their own improvements.  Feelings around the Broncos is they are not the same team that ended last season.  Peyton Manning has retired, leaving Mark Sanchez and rookie Paxton Lynch as their two possible starters at running back.  Even the vaunted defense took a couple of notable hits.  Key leader and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan left to sign with Chicago and breakout defensive end Malik Jackson earned a big deal from Jacksonville.

More than ever the feeling is the AFC West is wide open with every team having a shot to claim the crown.  The Oakland Raiders are long overdue for that accomplishment and they’d love nothing better than to make short work of their rivals’ reign as world champions in the process.  Talking a little trash is just part of the game.  No harm in getting it started early.