Five years from now, this season will be the one that the Oakland Raiders will remember as the launching point to what will become a perennial playoff team.

Reggie McKenzie, Raiders’ general manager, has finally started to reap the benefits of his excellent draft picks that he has made since he was hired in January of 2012.

The last two drafts in particular have been very fruitful for the team as Oakland landed Khalil Mack, the dominant pass-rushing defensive end from the University of Buffalo, who led the NFL in sacks in 2015. Him and former Fresno State Bulldog and local favorite, Derek Carr.

These two, along with stud receivers, Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and a top offensive line have been the catalysts for an Oakland Raiders team that is off to a 4-1 record through five games.

That is the best record the team has had through five games since 2002, when the team went to the Super Bowl and lost in an embarrassing fashion to the Buccaneers.

If the Raiders plan on making the playoffs and making a deep run, they will have to get past their division rival and defending Super Bowl champion, the Denver Broncos, who are also off to a 4-1 start.

There is not much doubt that the division will be won by one of the two teams, as Kansas City and San Diego have both underachieved so far, given the level of talent on their rosters.

Oakland’s biggest strength is their offense.

They boast an attack ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game at just a shade over 28. So scoring hasn’t been a problem.

If anything is going to hold this team back, it’s going to be the defense.

Oakland ranks dead last out of 32 teams in total yards allowed while also surrendering over 27 points per game according to ESPN and NFL’s official statistics.

It has not shown up in the win-loss column yet, but the team is playing with fire when they are giving up so many yards and points.

That won’t last forever. At some point you are who you are and the results will eventually bear the fruit of their labor.

That is not to say that the Raiders are not a good team or that they are overrated.

They earned their 4-1 record. Still, if the defense does not get substantially better throughout the season, the Raiders will be headed for a quick exit in the playoffs if they get there, which is no guarantee at this point.

With 11 games left in the season, there is still plenty of time to get these concerns straightened out, but the AFC is a tough conference and Oakland will be tested.

Seven of the final 11 games will be against teams that made the postseason last season, with five of them being against divisional opponents, which are the most crucial games on any team’s schedule.

Playing well against San Diego, Kansas City and Denver will go a long way in determining whether the Raiders will finally break their long and miserable playoff drought.