Even in an exciting 12-4 season, there were plenty of reasons to be frustrated with how the Raiders played defensively. Whether it was allowing over 500 yards in consecutive games to open the season or their league-leading 38 pass plays of 25-plus yards, the unit wasn’t good despite the presence of Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack.
Overall, the Raiders finished 26th in total yards allowed and 20th in average points allowed at 24.1. When the offense is that good, you can get away with such futility and that might be the case again in 2017. But Jack Del Rio is a prideful man with a defensive background who wants to see this group play better.