After three years of rebuilding, the Raiders may be ready to challenge for the NFLs biggest prize. Sky Sports considers if Oakland is ready to return to winning ways. The last time the Raiders had a winning season, they got to the Super Bowl. MVP quarterback Rich Gannon led the team to an 11-5 season before throwing five interceptions in a crushing loss to the Tampa Bay Bucaneers.Since that season in 2002, the Raiders have gone 63-145, finishing with double digit losses in 10 of the last 13 seasons. In 2012 Reggie McKenzie became general manager of the organisation, taking on the unenviable task of rebuilding a team that ranked 29th in points conceded, without a draft pick until the third round and some $30m over the cap budget. Oakland will be hoping to mount a push for a play-off spot at the Coliseum It was a tough couple of years for Raiders fans, who watched their team decimated in a desperate attempt to stabilise the franchise.As a result, between 2012-2014 they won a total of 11 games, used six starting quarterbacks and faced ridicule from all corners of the NFL. Throughout it all, and in the face of overwhelming pressure, McKenzie began the painful process of a methodical rebuild, through a balance of effective draft strategy and smart free agent signings.At last years draft, Amari Cooper, Mario Edwards Jn and Clive Walford all landed in Oakland and instantly became key pieces of head coach Jack del Rios redevelopment puzzle. Amari Cooper has been a success after being drafted last year In the draft class the year before, six of the franchises seven picks have played more than 25 games over the last two seasons. That includes first and second round picks Khalil Mack and Derek Carr, who have played in every game. In Carr, the Raiders have a promising young quarterback to build their team around. Mack was equally important on the defensive side of the ball, registering 15 sacks last year and becoming the player in NFL history to be named a first team All Pro at two different positions in the same season.Factor in the experience of free agent signings Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, Shaun Smith and Reggie Nelson, and Jack del Rios Oakland Raiders are a vastly different prospect to that of four years ago. The addition of Nelson addresses a weakness in dealing with pass catching tight ends.While in Osemele and Irvin, the Raiders have Super Bowl champion experience, which will help to guide a youthful team, taking the leadership reigns from the retired duo of Justin Tuck and Charles Woodson. Reggie Nelson has joined Oakland from the Cincinnati Bengals Going into their second year working togther, Del Rio and McKenzie seem to be on the same page when it comes to the regeneration of Oakland. Both former NFL linebackers, the mantra is focused on attitude over talent, and developing a team-first philosophy.The Raiders will look to reinforce their defence for this years draft with the primary focus at cornerback and defensive tackle. If they can land talent as they have done over the last two drafts, the team will be a fierce opponent, not only in the AFC West but throughout the play-offs.The Denver Broncos offer a great example to the Raiders. In 2010 the Broncos won only four games and finished bottom of the division. Five years down the line, after astute drafting and savvy free agency, the reigning Super Bowl champions have won the division every year since and been to two Super Bowls.For the first time since Hue Jackson led the team to an 8-8 season in 2011, the Raiders will look to become a credible contender for a play-off berth. If they can maintain their upward trajectory, there may be more competition in the West. Also See: 2017 NFL schedule released Can Jacksonville challenge? What next for Cleveland? Play-offs could expand? Houston Astros Gear . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Astros Jerseys 2019 . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. https://www.cheapastros.com/ . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Roberto Osuna Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. Cheap Astros Jerseys . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. The alarm bells were ringing loud and clear very early for Geelong coach Chris Scott on Friday night at Simonds Stadium.And apart from a spell of ascendancy in the second quarter, they kept ringing.Sydney ended up winning the AFL top-four clash by 38 points, consigning the Cats to a second straight loss.There are a lot of parts of our game that were well and truly off, said Scott after the 15.8 (98) to 9.6 (60) defeat.Weve got some serious areas we need to work on.Theres a clear pattern now of poor performance and even though weve got some guys playing well, weve got too many who are down.I think the first five minutes was quite alarming.The opposition just looked a lot cleaner than us and played the conditions a lot better.Geelongs recast attack could only muster nine majors, with Dan Menzel (two goals) the only forward to provide a consistent threat.The Swans also dominated the midfield exchanges, despite Patrick Dangerfield aaccumulating 18 possessions in the first quarter and and ending the match with 34.ddddddddddddI thought Dangerfield was really good but there were problems with his game as well, Scott said.Weve got some clear flaws that are not hard for us to identify.Our midfield collectively was beaten.We know when we play our style we can beat some good teams as we have done this year and when we dont play so well we look really average.Belief can be a bit of false bravado sometimes.We need to be realists and the reality for us is weve got a lot of work to do to compete with the very best teams.The Cats were in second spot on the ladder going into Friday nights match but could well tumble outside the top four by the conclusion of round 16.Their next challenge is away to Fremantle in another Friday night encounter. 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