TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 30: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle Akeem Spence (97) prepares to tackle Oakland Raiders Running Back Jalen Richard (30) during an NFL football game between the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 30, 2016, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL . (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire)
One of the themes you heard from Oakland Raiders players after their loss to the Houston Texans was a focus on the future. These guys know that this team is built to contend for a long time and this was just the first of what should be many playoff appearances for the Silver and Black.
It’s easy to focus on the negative after such a rough end to such a magical season. But fans should take a note from these guys who know that this is just the beginning of something special that’s being built in Oakland.
Here’s a look at some of the future thinking quotes from the Raiders after the game on Saturday:
Jalen Richard:
I’m definitely not done yet. Definitely look forward to getting better in the offseason with my teammates and coming back next year and making another playoff run.
Malcolm Smith:
This team has grown so much since I first came here. This is a winning team. This is a team that has the respect of the league now. Raiders fans have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.
David Amerson:
They know what the Raiders got. They know that this here talent, the coaches and schemes that’s going on, and they know that they’re going to have to deal with us for the next few years in the playoffs. Point blank.
T.J. Carrie on whether the future is bright:
The head boss upstairs, he’s given us some tools and he’s brought some guys here. We’ve really played sound football we’ve grown together as a team and a unit.
Most didn’t expect the Raiders to win 12 games. For most, a slight improvement and a playoff berth was all that you could hope for in the 2016-17 season. But then, the Raiders played far better than anyone expected and suddenly expectations went from just a playoff berth to a playoff run and possibly a Super Bowl appearance. So while this was a painful way to end the year, let’s not forget that this team is already ahead of where we expected them to be when the season started.
You can hear the audio from these quotes along with a lot more audio on Monday’s episode of the Black Hole Banter Podcast.
