Biggest Takeaways from Oakland Raiders' Week 14 Win

The Oakland Raiders' 15-12 victory over the Denver Broncos lead us back to old trends and into some potential tweaks in the offensive game plan going forward. 

Initially, the Raiders passing attack didn’t steal the show, but it remained a threat with underutilized weapons to seal the victory.

The Broncos defense forced the Raiders to take what was given in terms of yards and space on the field. Oakland took advantage of the slight opportunities, and then some, with effective adjustments.

Should we expect more production from infrequent contributors in the final three regular-season games? Will an injury alter the five-man combination in the trenches? Who’s due for an expanded role?

The offense excelled in late-game opportunities due to a collective defensive effort to keep the Broncos out of the end zone. Denver moved the ball effortlessly until venturing inside the 20-yard-line, missing out on three touchdown opportunities. 

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. also re-established an early-season identity to handicap the Broncos offense. What’s the identity of the Raiders defense? 

Let's examine the biggest storylines pertaining to the Raiders’ Week 14 win over the Broncos.

Mack: Good Pass-Rusher to Sack Leader

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By now, most casual NFL fans know about defensive lineman Khalil Mack’s five-sack performance on Sunday. However, they may not be aware of his current spot as the NFL's sack leader.

Coming into Week 14, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt had 13.5 sacks; Mack reached 14 with his relentless attack on Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler.

Watt didn’t record a sack against the New England Patriots Sunday night, which leaves Mack atop the statistical category. 

Four weeks ago, Mack had five sacks for the season—even the most loyal fans couldn’t envision him eclipsing Watt over the next few weeks. Nevertheless, the Raiders defensive lineman stands in a league of his own at the moment.

Mack has accumulated nine sacks over the past three games to transition from a good pass-rusher who provides pocket pressure to a prominent sack leader in the league.

Raiders Relocate Stout Run Defense

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In the beginning of the season, Oakland boasted a top-five run defense. Somehow, the defense lost that identity after three consecutive outings, surrendering 100-plus rushing yards between Weeks 9 and 11.

The Raiders front seven has re-established their stout front line with quick-striking second-level run support to prevent big gains in the past few weeks. Oakland held its third consecutive opponent under 100 rushing yards on Sunday.

The coaching staff has started rookie linebacker Ben Heeney, per NFL.com's gamebook. Mack has played outside linebacker in various packages to bolster the run defense. Second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. has also adequately filled in for defensive end Justin Tuck as a run-stopper on the edge, per Pro Football Focus.

Thus far, the minor tweaks and rookie progressions have paid dividends, rendering opposing offenses one-dimensional.

Still Searching for Running Back No. 2

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The Raiders front office opted to extend Jamize Olawale’s contract through the 2018 season, per the team's official website, which signified a future role for the fourth-year fullback. However, it doesn’t indicate an immediate role in the backfield.

Despite taking a handful of carries in the past few outings, Olawale disappeared from Week 14's game plan. The coaching staff allotted two carries to Marcel Reece and one carry to Taiwan Jones behind starting ball-carrier Latavius Murray’s 16 totes.

None of the ball-carriers looked impressive Sunday. Center Rodney Hudson returned to the lineup, but didn’t provide much spark to a ground attack that yielded 31 rushing yards from the running backs.

As a team, Oakland hasn’t eclipsed 100 rushing yards since Week 9. Murray has looked decent in spurts, but an absentee No. 2 back holds the Raiders' total rushing offense below average.

Tight Ends Lead the Way

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Denver’s aggressive and physical perimeter defense put the clamps on wideouts Amari Cooper (zero catches) and Michael Crabtree (four catches, 19 yards).

The Broncos successfully neutralized the Raiders’ prominent deep threats, but struggled with the tight ends in the second half. Mychal Rivera and Clive Walford combined for six catches, 96 yards and one touchdown. 

Quarterback Derek Carr told local reporters that the team came into this matchup prepared to utilize the tight ends to offset the solid group of cornerbacks in coverage.

Carr credited offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave with the idea to loosen a tight perimeter defense by attacking the middle of the field with big, athletic pass-catchers.

Tony Bergstrom’s Second Opportunity?

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On the first drive in the second half, right tackle Austin Howard exited the game with a knee injury. According to CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair, right guard J’Marcus Webb shifted to his natural position at right tackle and backup center Tony Bergstrom played right guard.

According to Pro Football Focus, Webb struggled for three seasons with the Chicago Bears as a right tackle under offensive line coach Mike Tice. His prior struggles on the perimeter prompted his transition to right guard. 

The severity of Howard’s injury remains unclear. Bergstrom has played well in Hudson’s absence, but the Raiders really need a solid push from their interior linemen to spark the ground attack.

Without Howard, Bergstrom’s role expands, but the rushing offense may continue to sputter.

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All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted.

Raiders Week 14 play-by-play provided by NFL.com.