Raiders Vs. Redskins: Preview and Match-Ups

  With the Raiders coming off of a big win at Pittsburgh, it is easy to be confident.  While the Redskins were in position to give New Orleans their first loss, they blew the lead after missed field goals and lost in overtime.  These teams were both in a come from behind win last week.  The Raiders rallied 3 times to beat the Steelers while the Saints came back from 2 possesion deficits to top Washington.  DeAngelo Hall will play his former team in front of the fans who once enjoyed watching him wear the silver and black. 

Raiders vs. Losing Streak:     Every time the Raiders have won this year they have followed it with a blowout loss.  After they won at Kansas City they were shattered by the Broncos.  After they beat the Eagles they were destroyed by the Jets.  After they upset the Bengals they went down 24-7 at Dallas on Thanksgiving.  So now they are on top of the world coming off the upset of the year and they feel high and mighty.  Will the Raiders win a game they should win at home against a 3-9 Redskins team or will the streak continue.

Redskins vs. Their Record:     The Redskins record is at 3-9.  At this point they have nothing to play for except pride, but that is how the Raiders shocked the Steelers.  The Redskins don't look like a 3-9 team.  They nearly beat Drew Brees and the Saints.  If the Raiders expect to cruise past them then the Raiders better prepare to crash and burn in a loss that would be as devastating as the loss to the Chiefs in week 10.

  Justin Fargas vs. Albert Haynesworth:     Justin Fargas has emerged from the Raiders third man in the running back committee and has become the lead rusher.  He loves the pound between the tackles and on Sunday he will have a big defensive tackle waiting for him.  Haynesworth is listed as questionable to play Sunday but if he goes, bad ankle or not, Fargas will have a hell of a time trying to steamroll Haynesworth.

  DeAngelo Hall vs. Chris Johnson:    The Raiders released D-Hall because Tom Cable said they had a better guy behind him.  That guy was Chris Johnson and he has had a bigger target on his back than Osama Bin Laden.  With most passes going away from #21 Namdi Asomugha Johnson has shown his skills sometimes while other times he has gotten burned.  Not as bad as D-Hall was burned by Eddie Royal in his Raider debut on Monday night vs. Denver way back then, but C.J. needs to step up the consistency.  If  D-Hall locks down whoever he matches up with, the Raiders will have a hard time having a versatile offense and that could lead to a Redskin victory.  D-Hall has said there are no hard feelings between him and the Raiders but there could be some bad blood between Namdi's former sidekick and new sidekick.

  Raiders Run Defense vs. Redskins Back Up Running Backs:    Many times the Raiders have had an opponent deactivate their starting running back and then expect the next guy to be a bum.  How many Raiders fans remember that game against the Texans when the Raiders held them to -5 yards passing but lose because Ron Dayne mowed them down.  Earlier this year the Texans back up Ryan Moats made a sequel to that when he was plugged in and was a part of the Texans blowing out the Raiders earlier this year.  Remember when Priest Holmes retired the same week that Larry Johnson was injured and #3 running back of the Chiefs Kolby Smith had a triple digit game and the Chiefs beat the Raiders in Oakland.  The Jets whomped the Raiders earlier this year when Leon Washington broke his leg on the first play.  I could go on all day but the point is with Clinton Portis on the IR, the Raiders can't overlook Quentin Ganthner.  If you don't know him I hope you don't find out from Sunday.

  Money vs. Talent:     Johnie Lee Higgins had a 4 catch 64 yard game filling in for DHB.  DHB has constantly dropped passes and should be a back up to Louis Murphy, Chaz Schilens and Johnie Lee becauase those guys can run fast AND catch the ball.  DHB is clearly not ready to catch the ball at the NFL level and should be benched until he learns how.  I'm not trying to hate or blame DHB but look at the connections from Gradkowski to Murphy and Schilens and Higgins.  DHB is questionable with his foot in a walking boot so he could lose his speed advantage and he already has the possibility of going against D-Hall who has good speed himself.  It is the investment vs. the talented player.