The Las Vegas Raiders (4-7) came into the game with newfound hope. A team that had high expectations going into the season, the Raiders somehow found themselves on the outside looking in, as they were on the losing end in seven of their first nine games.

But the team never wavered from their core principles nor did they fall victim to the noise. They trusted their coach and bought-into the program. The result was a two-game winning streak heading into Week 13.

A Week 13 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers that witnessed the Raiders losing the season-opener in their first-meeting 19-24. Payback was on the horizon, if the team could maintain discipline in all three phases of the game while being fundamentally sound.

They did just that.

Games are won down in the trenches. This is a staple of the Raider Way. Imposing your will at the line of scrimmage, winning your one-on-one battles, and maintaining discipline in run-fits and blocking patterns.

In the end, the silver & black came out on top but it wasn’t without a valiant effort up front.

154. The number of rushing yards the Raiders imposed on the Chargers run defense.

5.3. The number of yards per carry for the Raiders offense.

0. The number of sacks allowed by the team’s offensive line.

5. The number of sacks created by the Raiders defense. Three of those coming from DE Chandler Jones.

72. The total number of Chargers rushing yards.

You put that all together–and that’s a recipe for success.

Coach McDaniels talks about being disciplined in all three phases. He can sleep tonight–because the team did just that and is progressing toward a better future, as the team is riding a three-game winning streak.

Raider Nation ask me all the time if the mood has changed at Raider Way, and my answer has always remained the same. Consistency is key in the NFL and comes from the top–nothing has changed from a coaching/teaching perspective–the only difference is that the players are finally adapting to the new scheme in place and thriving as a result.

With the Raiders going into a short week, scheduled to play the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night, it will be interesting to see how they fare, as the team seems to be trending in the right direction, thanks in large part to Coach McDaniels.