Jack Del Rio: I don't see why Oakland Raiders won't win AFC West

Jack Del Rio is a confident man, a trait befitting of NFL head coaches, but is he blind?

Del Rio recently said in a video posted on the Oakland Raiders website, “Goal No. 1 is to win our division, and I don’t see why not.”

Well, for starters, the Raiders haven’t won the AFC West since 2002. They’ve hired and fired eight coaches since then, with Del Rio being the ninth man put in charge of the “Rai-duhs.” Second, Del Rio should see how talented the Denver Broncos – winners of four straight division titles – are, considering he was the team’s defensive coordinator from 2012-14. At least, he should easily see the disparity in talent going from Denver to Oakland, and how the black and silver are lacking compared to the other three teams in the West.

But, maybe Del Rio is right. Maybe the Raiders will compete for the division crown for the first time in a baker’s dozen years.

Or maybe we’ll all once again see the Raiders, “Are who we thought they were,” and Del Rio likely won’t be let off the hook. If Oakland flounders again, Del Rio will probably be given the hook.