NFL Picks Week 3: 4 Reasons the Raiders Will Upset the Jets

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On any given Sunday, you are either gonna win or you're gonna lose. Parity is the name of the game these days in the National Football League.

Just about every Sunday there is a scoreline that leaves people going, huh? Well this Sunday, the Oakland Raiders are in a great position to upset the New York Jets. 

Travel

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Last week a big deal was made about how the Raiders had to travel across the country to Buffalo for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Buffalo following a Monday night game. This week the tables are turned, and the New York Jets will be the ones finding themselves playing on the West Coast.

Not easy to travel across the country then wake up and find yourself playing in Oakland's famed black-hole.

The combination of home-field advantage and jet lag for New York should give Oakland an edge. 

Oakland Isn't Bad.

McFadden Impressed Against Denver
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Oakland is currently 4th in rushing in the National Football League behind former Arkansas star, Darren McFadden. However, the Jets are currently the ninth ranked rushing defense.

It will be a battle of strengths on Sunday, while the Jets managed to keep Maurice Jones-Drew out of the end zone last week, they were also aided by Jacksonville's inability to throw the ball.

Oakland possess a vertical passing game that will prevent Rex Ryan's defense from loading the box like they could against Jacksonville. Jason Cambell was missing Jacoby Ford, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy and Kevin Boss yet he still threw for 334 yards last week.

Look for the Oakland passing game to free up McFadden and Micheal Bush. 

Nick Mangold's Injury

Richard Seymour
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The strength of the Jets in the Rex Ryan era has been their dominant offensive line. However, star center Nick Mangold, has an high-ankle sprain and whether he will play or not on Sunday is still "very iffy" as Rex Ryan said.

Expect Raiders star defensive lineman Richard Seymour to be very active for the Raiders harassing Sanchez and the Jets running game all day. Raiders safety Micheal Huff could also be very active on blitzes.

If the Raiders defense can harass Mark Sanchez the Jets offense wont be nearly as effective as it was last week. 

Special Teams

Between punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janakowski the Raiders possess one of the best specialist tandems in the National Football League.

As legendary Tennessee coach General Robert Neyland said, "Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made."

The Raiders ability to flip field position and score three points almost any time they get into Jets territory will give them the edge they need to upset the 2-0 Jets.