Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie acknowledges Raiders Can Make the Playoffs

– Jul 28, 2012

To watch or have faith in a team that last had a winning season in 2002 is simply not easy, especially when the Oakland Raiders had a bitter Super Bowl appearance, losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Regardless, “Raider Nation” continues to keep the Silver and Black faithful growing despite their 10 year drought from the playoffs.

The "New Era" of Raiders football brings in new hope after the passing of their legendary owner and patriarch, Al Davis.

Raider players and fans alike are over flowing with great confidence and excitement the new season brings and the concepts of discipline and accountability the new head coach Dennis Allen and GM Reggie McKenzie are continuing to instill into the organization.

Last week in an interview with Raiders' quarterback Carson Palmer from Lake Tahoe, CA, while at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, he acknowledge the team is a playoff team; McKenzie seems to agree. 

McKenzie spoke to Monte Poole of the Bay Area News Group:

“I think after being around these guys the whole offseason, being around the coaching staff and the players, I definitely think we have the makeup of being a playoff team. I feel what Carson is saying, as far as where we’re headed...we’re headed in the direction [and] we can get there.”

The great thing Raider Nation must be aware of is the open mind the leaders of the team are moving towards.  Placing the Raiders in the right direction and not promising a Super Bowl Championship, but they are indicating an exciting and winning season to come in 2012. McKenzie went on to say:

“...I’m encouraged by what I saw during the offseason, No. 1 being that everybody seems to be on the same page. We just need to keep progressing. We can make this happen.”

The last two seasons were exciting, but only to result in ups and downs as the team collected wins and losses like a roller-coaster and never seemed to get over the hump. In both seasons, the team just missed the playoffs ending the season with a record of 8-8.

The Raiders are planting a new seed, keeping the old tradition of Silver and Black football alive, led by the knowledge of new GM McKenzie and new instruction from head coach, Allen.

It’s now time to believe in a new philosophy, determination and willingness and in all of the great tradition of Raiders football.

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