Oakland Raiders vs Detroit Lions: Full Oakland Game Preview
The Oakland Raiders cannot buy into this week’s role as an overwhelming favorite over the Detroit Lions.
Bleacher Report’s Chris Simms picked the Lions as one of his five teams guaranteed to lose. Of course, it makes for an interesting segment, but the Raiders must play this game knowing their Wild Card hopes hang in the balance.
Sure, the Lions (2-7) resemble a team out of sorts after cleaning house two weeks ago, per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, but they’re not surrendering the entire season. Detroit upset the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 10—that outcome should grab Oakland’s attention.
Furthermore, a suspension to a key component within the Raiders pass rush bodes well for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who’s still throwing bombs to Calvin Johnson. In total, Detroit’s defense (25th) ranks higher than Oakland’s (30th) in total yards allowed.
In Week 11, the Raiders need to focus on shaking out the cobwebs and re-establishing their run defense against the worst rushing offense in the league. They’ll also duel with another top-10 passing offense capable of moving the ball up and down the field.
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Date: Sunday, Nov. 22
Time: 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Week 10 Results and Recap
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AFC West
Denver Broncos (7-2)
Kansas City Chiefs (4-5)
Oakland Raiders (4-5)
San Diego Chargers (2-7)
AFC Wild Card
*Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
*Buffalo Bills (5-4)
New York Jets (5-4)
Kansas City Chiefs (4-5)
Oakland Raiders (4-5)
Miami Dolphins (4-5)
Houston Texans (4-5)
*Note: Team currently holds a Wild Card spot
Two losses in two weeks made a world of difference in this AFC Wild Card race. Oakland now sits ninth within the conference and third in the division behind the Kansas City Chiefs due to strength of victories.
Fortunately, the AFC West division could end in upheaval with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning struggling tremendously at the helm. Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak benched Manning in the third quarter of an ugly loss to the Chiefs in Week 10.
Kansas City doesn’t strike the NFL landscape as a world-beater, which makes this division race intriguing. Denver still fields a fierce defense, but an inexperienced starting quarterback with the league’s No. 28 rushing offense opens a slither of opportunity for the Raiders and Chiefs.
News and Notes
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Raiders Want Aldon Smith Back After Year-long Suspension?
On Tuesday the NFL handed down a year-long suspension for edge-rusher Aldon Smith stemming from an incident in August, per ESPN reports.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole, the Raiders hold interest in re-signing Smith when his contract expires in the offseason. Three weeks ago, general manager Reggie McKenzie spoke about Smith as a long-term asset in a roundtable discussion, per the team’s official website.
Thus far, Oakland seems fully invested in Smith on the field and inevitably off the field. The front office knew this suspension would come sooner or later. Since Smith is a repeat offender, McKenzie obviously weighed the reality of a lengthy ban.
The Raiders nor Smith stand as victims of this suspension with all of the details and procedures widely publicized. Both the player and organization hope to move on with a brighter future after the sanction.
Raiders Run Defense Drops to No. 23
Oakland came into its Week 8 matchup against the New York Jets fielding the league’s second-best run defense, allowing less than 100 yards per game. The Raiders have dropped to No. 23 in defending the run after two abysmal performances from the front seven.
On average, the Raiders have allowed the most rushing yards (177.3) in the last three weeks.
A matchup against the league’s worst ground attack, logging 66.9 yards per contest should help the Raiders' interior run defense get back on track. Although, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. must game-plan for three running backs with varying skill sets, which commands extra time in the film room.
One More Year for Charles Woodson?
According to Rothstein, safety Charles Woodson stills holds a passion for the game and a fire in his belly to play in his 19th season at 40 years old.
"I guess I'm already there, pretty much," Woodson said in a conference call with Detroit reporters Wednesday. "Could I see myself going another year? Uhh, I guess I could. I mean, it's right there. It's not like it's five years away so it's right there. So yeah, I could see it."
Woodson, tied with Indianapolis Colts safety Mike Adams, leads the league in interceptions with a hurt shoulder. There’s no question the Raiders would sign him for another year, even at his advanced age.
The future Hall of Famer may stick around for Year 2 of the Raiders' resurgence, due to the fact he’s still one of the best defensive backs in the league.
Key Injuries
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D.J. Hayden (LP): Cornerback D.J. Hayden initially hurt his ankle early in the game against the Vikings, evident when he stepped off the field, per Associated Press writer Josh Dubow. He practiced with limitations on Wednesday.
Rodney Hudson (DNP): CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair observed Hudson on the sideline at home against the Vikings without any protection for his sprained ankle. Nonetheless, the Raiders' starting center continued to sit out of practice on Wednesday.
Neiron Ball (DNP): Rookie linebacker Neiron Ball continues to sit out of practice with a knee injury. He’s become the most popular linebacker on the roster due to Curtis Lofton’s struggles in the middle of the field. He’ll likely miss his fourth consecutive game on Sunday.
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Key Matchups
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Raiders Secondary vs. Calvin Johnson
The Lions record doesn’t say much about the entirety of the team, but the passing offense still ranks eighth in the league. Johnson, a.k.a Megatron, still lists as a top-10 wideout in receiving yards, and allowing Stafford enough time in the pocket puts tremendous pressure on a poor secondary.
In Week 1, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green’s numbers (five catches, 63 yards) didn’t pop off the page as a big target, but Johnson plays with less finesse than Green and more muscle similar to New York Jets wideout Brandon Marshall—and the Raiders struggled to contain him (nine catches, 108 yards) with Geno Smith in the pocket.
Oakland should bracket Johnson with cornerback T.J. Carrie and Woodson deep downfield, since Nate Allen showed quite a bit of rust in his return against the Minnesota Vikings.
Latavius Murray vs. Lions Run Defense
The Raiders haven’t won a game (0-4) when running back Latavius Murray runs for less than 50 yards. Despite the excitement for the passing attack, Oakland cannot win with an one-dimensional offense.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave must jump-start the ground attack with Murray to balance the offense. He’s accumulated 73 percent of the team’s rushing yards due to the lack of production behind him. It’s anyone’s guess as to who fills in the gaps as the No. 2 running back against the Lions.
Insidebayarea.com writer Jerry McDonald posed a question aimed at the Raiders' reluctance to balance the play-calling in Week 10. Oakland’s ball-carriers took 17 carries, and quarterback Derek Carr ran twice.
Head coach Jack Del Rio refrained from criticizing the game plan during Monday's press conference. Although, it’s a safe bet the Raiders will hand off to a running back more than 17 times against the Lions.
X-Factors: Mario Edwards Jr.
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Benson Mayowa will likely see an uptick in snaps with Smith out for the remainder of this season. The third-year defensive lineman has only played 90 snaps after missing the first four games of the season.
Second-round pick Mario Edwards surpassed Mayowa as a dynamic asset within the front seven. The coaching staff will likely lean on the rookie defensive end to fulfill a prominent role as a complementary pass-rusher to Khalil Mack.
In order to stop the Lions' top-10 pass offense, Oakland must generate some pressure on Stafford in the pocket. He doesn’t possess the mobility Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater displayed in Week 10. Adequate pressure should amount to a few sacks and third-down stops.
Prediction: Raiders 34, Lions 24
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The Lions have eclipsed 100 rushing yards once this season. Norton should find a way to force the offense into a predictable, one-dimensional approach.
Once Stafford begins hurling desperation passes to the wide receivers, the Raiders should have enough talent to capitalize on defending the obvious threats. It wouldn’t hurt to play most of this contest in a nickel package.
This game could resemble another shootout similar to the Steelers matchup. Johnson and tight end Eric Ebron will have their moments against the Raiders defense.
The only difference here points to the Lions’ inability to move the ball on the ground. Oakland will find a way to earn a victory against a team that moves the ball but struggles to score points, averaging 18.6 points a game.
Raiders 34, Lions 24
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Full Oakland Raiders injury report provided by Raiders.com.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted.
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