Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL 2017 preview: Looking at strengths, weaknesses and X-factors for all 32 teams

By Peter Panacy

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greet each other following the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers/Appleton Post Crescent via USA TODAY NETWORK /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
26 of 33
Next
Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Oakland Raiders

2016 Record: 12-4, Second Place in the AFC West

The Oakland Raiders were one Derek Carr injury away from likely going very deep in the playoffs.

This leg injury to the Raiders’ star quarterback was a shame, especially for this Oakland team on the rise. Oakland’s offense was prolific last year, with wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree combining for over 1,000 receiving yards each.

And while the Raiders won’t have running back Latavius Murray back in the fray — welcome back to Oaktown, Marshawn Lynch — at least the silver and black shouldn’t suffer any major offensive drawbacks.

Defensive pieces like linebackers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin have also made their play. They’re among the best in the league and a testament to what general manager Reggie McKenzie has done here.

If there was a pressing need, it was within the secondary. And Oakland addressed this with NFL Draft picks, cornerback Gareon Conley and safety Obi Melifonwu.

Strengths

The Raiders offense remains a pinnacle of whatever happens this season. It’s an elite group and shouldn’t suffer too much a drawback with Murray out of the picture.

Carr’s health shouldn’t be an issue either. The broken leg suffered doesn’t appear to be hindering him at all now, and we should expect yet another solid season from the Raiders’ star signal-caller.

And keep on the lookout for Mack and Co. This front seven is pretty good.

Weaknesses

While the additions of both Conley and Melifonwu should help, Conley’s legal issues could wind up biting Oakland in a major way this year. We’ll see how this plays out, but the Raiders secondary is still far from perfect.

The Raiders could also have used a bit of offensive line help via the draft, but there weren’t exactly a lot of top-tier options available.

X-Factors

The Raiders’ eventual move to Las Vegas in a couple of years may wind up being a distraction for the players on the field. Sure, they’ll say the right things. But this carries weight. How much of it is yet to be determined.

And with Lynch, one has to wonder if the 31-year-old tailback is going to resemble his Beastmode self, or if this is little more than a ploy to keep Raiders fans coming to Oakland Coliseum. Lynch hasn’t played a full season since 2014. That’s a long time.