Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted what made this such a special moment:
Losses by the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos in Week 14 helped Oakland move back into sole possession of first place in the AFC West with two weeks remaining.
The team celebrated the moment on its official Twitter account:
Bleacher Report and the NFL account both joined in for the celebration:
The Raiders have not made the postseason since their Super Bowl XXXVII loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. What's followed has been more than a decade of futility, featuring eight head coaches and zero playoff appearances.
As ESPN Stats & Info noted, it was the third-longest active streak in the NFL without a playoff appearance.
Oakland's eighth hire, Jack Del Rio, appears to have been the charm. He led the Raiders to a four-win improvement in 2015 and followed that up with a surprising ascent to possible home-field advantage this season.
The Raiders raced out to a 10-2 start on the back of a promising young core of players. Quarterback Derek Carr has put himself firmly in the MVP conversation, Amari Cooper has had a breakout second season, and Michael Crabtree has found a home after years of up-and-down play in San Francisco.
With running back Latavius Murray on pace to rank among the NFL leaders in touchdown rushes, and perhaps the AFC's best offensive line, there arguably isn't a more well-rounded unit in football.
"I tell them before the game: You win, we win," Carr said of the line, per Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. "They love that. They want to put it on them. … When your offensive line can do certain things, protect the quart...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
