The Arizona Cardinals have asserted themselves as the class of the NFC West, and the Oakland Raiders may not be too far behind in the AFC.
Raiders vs. Cardinals 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Eight years ago, the Cardinals emerged from the abyss and became Super Bowl contenders. Could the Raiders be next?
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Despite a relocation controversy that continues to swarm over their heads, the Raiders have built a well-rounded team that appears primed to take advantage of a wide open AFC West. The best news is the development of third-year quarterback Derek Carr, who threw for 32 touchdowns and posted a 91.1 pass rating last season -- a nearly 15-point improvement from his rookie campaign.
Carr's No. 1 target is second-year receiver Amari Cooper, who caught 72 passes for 1,070 yards in his first professional season. He is complemented by the speedy Michael Crabtree, the former 49ers wideout who experienced a renaissance on the other side of the Bay Area. Crabtree tied his career high in receptions (85) while collecting his most receiving yards in a season since 2012.
But the real reason why the Raiders are an attractive preseason pick is the improvements they made to their defense. General manager Reggie McKenzie added veteran cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson to the secondary while drafting Karl Joseph with the No. 14 overall pick. Joseph may not play Friday due to an ACL injury he suffered last year, but he could wind up becoming one of the young defensive stars in the league.
The Cardinals' big offseason addition was also on defense. They acquired pass rusher Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots in exchange for offensive guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick. Jones leads the Patriots with 30 sacks over the last three seasons and immediately gives the Cardinals a potentially game-changing presence up front.
While the Raiders’ offense is built around the young duo of Carr and Cooper, the Cardinals are led by 36-year-old quarterback Carson Palmer. After signing a one-year extension that will keep him in Arizona through 2018, Palmer said this week he would like to retire as a Cardinal.
Last decade, the notion of retiring proudly as an Arizona Cardinal was laughable. But over the last eight years, the Cardinals have emerged as one of the premier franchises in the NFL. There perhaps isn’t a greater symbol of the organization’s turnaround than Tyrann Mathieu. The enigmatic safety was constantly in trouble while playing at LSU, admitting to at least 10 failed drug tests before he says he lost count. But he’s developed into an elite player in Arizona, inking a monstrous five-year, $62.5 million extension earlier this month.
For the Cardinals, this preseason is all about ensuring their starters stay healthy and rounding out the edges of their roster. After several moribund decades, they've finally established themselves as preeminent Super Bowl contenders.
The Raiders aren’t there yet, but they appear to be on the right path. They’ll try to beat the Cardinals Friday, of course, but could also look to their side of the field for inspiration. Oakland looks prepared to make a big jump this season.
How to Watch
When: 10 p.m. ET
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium
TV: National - NFL Network; Local - KTVU in Oakland, KNXV in Phoenix
Announcers: Beth Mowins, Matt Millen (Raiders), Dave Pasch, Ron Wolfley (Cardinals)
Online: NFL Game Pass
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