Raiders will show us how far they’ve come

At 4-3 with a quarterback to grow with in Derek Carr and an accomplished head coach in Jack Del Rio, the Oakland Raiders are as legitimate as they’ve been since going to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. This is an organization that has won five games or fewer 10 times in the last 12 seasons, never better than 8-8. They were 0-7 at this time last year, on their way to 0-10 and 3-13.

Their only losses this season have been to the Bengals (33-13) and Broncos (16-10) at home and the Bears (22-20) on the road. And they have to be kicking themselves over that loss to the Bears, in which Jay Cutler converted a fourth-and-five pass from his 25yard line with 90 seconds to go, leading to Robbie Gould’s gamewinning, 49-yard field goal.

There’s no secret to the Raiders’ success. Since hiring Ron Wolf/ Ted Thompson protege Reggie McKenzie as general manager in 2012, the Raiders have drafted well — cornerback D.J. Hayden (first round) and running back Latavius Murray (sixth) in 2013; defensive end Khalil Mack (first) and Carr (second) in 2014; and wide receiver Amari Cooper (first) in 2015. McKenzie’s top three picks from the last two seasons are starters. The Raiders haven’t drafted a player in the first round who made the Pro Bowl since cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in 2003.

The loss to the Bears notwithstanding, the Raiders are learning how to win. With Cooper held to four catches for 46 yards by Darrelle Revis last week against the Jets, Carr still threw four touchdown passes in a 34-20 win.

The challenge this week is to win on the road against the Steelers. After losing 22 of 24 road games, the Raiders have won two of three this season. This would be the biggest one yet.

Pick: Raiders 27, Steelers 21.