5 Bold Predictions for Oakland Raiders' Week 13 Matchup
The Oakland Raiders are coming off their first win last week and are seeking to build on momentum they’ve lacked all season.
In Week 13, the Raiders travel to St. Louis with their heads held high, ready to compete for another win.
After getting a taste of victory for the first time this season, the Raiders must act with composure when closing the final moments of a football game.
The bold predictions for this contest have an underlying theme of second occurrences.
Latavius Murray: Most Productive Raiders Running Back in Consecutive Games
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According to NFL.com writer Kevin Patra, interim coach Tony Sparano attempted to quell the excitement surrounding Latavius Murray’s outbreak performance last week. However, it’s hard to deny that the former sixth-round pick provided a spark neither Darren McFadden nor Maurice Jones-Drew failed to provide up to this point.
In one game, Murray has the same amount of rushing touchdowns as McFadden and eclipsed Jones-Drew’s total rushing yards for the season. Sparano must continue to ride the hot hand in the backfield.
Murray is a potential late-round draft gem capable of uplifting Oakland’s rushing attack when given the opportunity.
At 1-10, the Raiders need to evaluate Murray. What better way to assess his potential than giving him 15-20 carries against a subpar run defense?
Consecutive Games Recording over 100 Rushing Yards
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Piggybacking off the first prediction, the Raiders are up against a defense that allows 115.8 rushing yards per game.
Oakland has a potential three-headed monster for its rushing attack. Jones-Drew has been ineffective thus far, but distribution among the three running backs could be effective, specifically later in the game. It would be a tough task for any team to stop three healthy ball-carriers.
If Murray posts anything close to the numbers he did last week, the Raiders' 32nd-ranked rushing attack can easily accumulate 100 rushing yards in consecutive weeks.
Khalil Mack Records 2nd Sack
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Shaun Hill is a 34-year-old stationary quarterback. The St. Louis Rams’ pass-blocking efficiency ranks 29th in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Until running back Tre Mason proves to be a threat, the Raiders will benefit from added pressure on Hill.
Mack’s athleticism will be a nightmare for St. Louis’ offensive line protecting an immobile quarterback.
Oakland was able to sack Alex Smith twice last week—neither of those sacks coming from the defensive line. Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver should add some wrinkles to blitz schemes, to assess how Hill handles pressure upfront.
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Derek Carr Throws for 2nd Career 300-Yard Game
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According to Inside Bay Area reporter Jerry McDonald, Rod Streater, the Raiders’ leading receiver in 2013, could see the field in an early return.
Streater won't lead Oakland’s receiving corps on the stat sheet, but his presence on the field poses a threat to the Rams’ 21st-ranked pass defense.
Even though it’s not a foregone conclusion that Streater will play in Week 13, St. Louis surrenders 250.9 yards per game. Yes, it’s 50 yards shy of 300, but the defense has allowed 300 passing yards in two of the last three games.
As a rookie, quarterback Derek Carr spreads the ball exceptionally well. Four players have 30 or more receptions this season. If Streater plays, Carr will find him on the field. The tandem has already worked on continuity preceding his return per McDonald:
""I didn't think I was going to come back," Streater said. "I'd never broken anything, so I thought the worst when I heard it. When they told me (I could come back), I said, all right, we'll see. As the weeks went on I felt better and better.
"When I was able to go out and run routes, it hit me -- I might be able to come back.''
Streater said his two main goals were getting back into football shape and getting some extra work in with rookie quarterback Derek Carr to restore their sense of timing and trust.
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Raiders Earn Second Win
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Oakland will go 2-0 against teams from Missouri. Despite losing Sam Bradford, which seems to be a reoccurring theme for the Rams, Fisher prepares this team to compete. After shocking the Denver Broncos with a win in Week 11, and battling the San Diego Chargers until the bitter end, how could St. Louis lose against the one-win Raiders?
Momentum clearly favors Oakland. After escaping the potential shame of a winless season, the Raiders can play without the feeling anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Playing to avoid 0-16 places a lot of pressure on a team of proud veterans likes Justin Tuck, Charles Woodson and Antonio Smith. It can also discourage young talent like Carr and Mack. Now that the winless burden has been lifted, expect the Raiders to play to win, instead of playing not lose.
Prediction: Oakland 23, Rams 17
Unless otherwise noted, all advanced statistics provided by ESPN.com
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