The Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers will square off in this year's Super Bowl. In one corner stands the aging veteran Peyton Manning in possibly the 40-year-old's final game. In the other corner is 26-year-old Cam Newton getting his first taste of the Super Bowl. It's a changing of the guard to be sure.
But who will be the next young quarterback to make the leap? Oakland Raiders fans hope it's Derek Carr.
While there are no moral victories in the NFL, the Raiders must be pleased with the improvement they showed during their 7-9 season. After 12 years of futility, the team finally has accrued several crucial building blocks that has put them back on the path to respectability.
"The Raiders have five Pro Bowlers on their roster for the first time since their last Super Bowl season in 2002 and more than doubled their win total, going from 3-13 to 7-9," ESPN Raiders reporter Paul Gutierrez wrote. "Oakland also has a young nucleus on the rise in quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper and outside linebacker Khalil Mack. The worm seems to have finally turned for the Raiders, as none of their offseason drama has anything to do with a coach or players. Now, if only we knew where they were going to play in 2016."
There's no denying the strides Oakland took this past season. Carr improved immensely against the blitz and showed a better understanding of the offense as a whole. Khalil Mack finished second behind Houston's J.J. Watt in sacks and Cooper is already a star in the making. But this Raiders team is still far from complete.
Oakland allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (258.8) this past season and eleventh-most points (24.9). Specifically, general manager Reggie McKenzie could target defensive backs and defensive ends while also investing in the offensive line to continue protecting Carr.
There's reason for optimism, but not delusions of grandeur.
