ALAMEDA — Jack Del Rio’s Raiders may have already matched the win total of last year’s team, but no one in the first-year coach’s locker room is daring to talk playoffs just yet.

“It’s a long season,” Raiders left tackle Donald Penn said. “I don’t want guys to get ahead of ourselves.”

That’s a prime example of how Del Rio, the Hayward native in his first season coaching the Raiders, has brought a new attitude to this franchise.

“Focus is what he’s brought,” safety Charles Woodson, now in his 18th year, said of Del Rio. “Honing our focus on what the big picture is. He talked from day one, and I know I’ve said this over and over, that it’s about trying to win the division. That’s been our focus every day going out there to practice.”

There’s plenty of time for this season to ride high or come crashing down. But the Raiders (3-3) head into November firmly in the playoff hunt.

“That was the plan,” Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said. “We felt good about coming out of training camp where we were. Trying to stay healthy. That’s what it’s all about right now.”

The two teams just ahead of Oakland in the wild-card standings are Sunday’s opponent (New York Jets, 4-2) and next week’s (Pittsburgh Steelers, 4-3), so for the Raiders to start seriously talking playoffs, the time is now to win games.

“Whenever you go in and put all that work in all the time, all the stuff with the weight room, all the hours you get up early in the morning when your wife and little guy are still asleep and you want to sleep too, all of that stuff is to win football games,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “We believe in what coaches are telling us and we’re just going to continue to do that and hope that it brings more wins.”

Del Rio was chosen to lead this team largely because of his experience, which includes nine seasons as a head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-11. The Raiders hadn’t hired someone with previous NFL head coaching experience in another organization since Norv Turner’s two-year stint in 2004-05. Del Rio’s time the past three seasons as the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator also gave him a necessary perspective that McKenzie thinks has helped.

“Bottom line, he’s done it before, so that’s really helped him seeing things and being able to communicate,” McKenzie said. “When you’re removed from it, after your first stint, then sit back and coordinate for a couple more years, then come back to it, I think that played a big part in how he’s approached this season. It’s been good, really good.”

The buy-in from the players is evident when you consider the offseason involvement from players such as Woodson and kicker Sebastian Janikowski. The two veterans have been known to stay away from voluntary workouts, but both participated throughout the offseason program at Del Rio’s request.

“We talked about the importance, and what he wanted from this team, and him wanting me here,” Woodson said in June of his offseason participation. “I understood completely what he was talking about.”

Free-agent signee Dan Williams played for one of the NFL’s top coaches his past two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals in Bruce Arians. Del Rio has quickly earned Williams’ respect and admiration.

“He doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” Williams said. “When we suck, he’ll let us know. When we’re doing well, he’ll let us know. He definitely makes sure that he points out teaching points. Things we can learn from — from wins, from losses — and he’s just making everybody accountable. He’s a no-excuse guy. As a player and even as a man, you can respect that.”

Extra respect comes when those teaching points turn into victories. That’s where these three early season wins hold significance.

“When you’re doing something and you’re working so hard, if it’s not turning into victories, you’re going to start looking at it like, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Penn said. “The good thing is ours are turning into victories early, so all these young guys started getting motivation and started believing. That’s something that is key.”

Rookie receiver Amari Cooper is used to winning at Alabama under coach Nick Saban, with the Crimson Tide going 36-5 in Cooper’s three seasons. Cooper has grown fond of Del Rio’s coaching style.

“He’s really diligent in his approach,” Cooper said. “He wants us to be winners. He wants us to prepare like winners. I really like the attitude.”

A new attitude can mean everything and for Penn, in his second season in Oakland and 10th in the NFL, that’s meant a lot.

“He brought a new attitude, a new vibe, a new intensity, a new little swagger,” Penn said of Del Rio. “The biggest thing is: Everybody’s tired and they’re ready to change it. We’re trying to turn this thing around. We’re tired of hearing the same old stuff. We’re tired of losing.”

Linebacker Neiron Ball is the only Raiders player who will be unavailable to face the Jets because of injury. Ball hurt his knee after 18 snaps in last week’s 37-29 win over San Diego and is expected to miss a minimum of four games. Justin Ellis (ankle) and Denico Autry (concussion) were full participants and will be available in the defensive line rotation along with Khalil Mack, Mario Edwards Jr., Stacy McGee, Dan Williams, CJ Wilson, Shelby Harris and Benson Mayowa.

Penn was fined $8,681 for unnecessary roughness in last week’s game, while San Diego defensive tackle Corey Liuget was fined the same amount for kicking Penn.

Jets leading rusher Chris Ivory (501 yards) was a full participant in practice despite a hamstring injury and is expected to start against the Raiders.