Jason Campbell Injury: Game-by-Game Predictions for the Raiders Without Their QB

Jason Campbell plays the most important position in the National Football League.

Quarterback.

On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders lost their quarterback for the rest of the season on this play with a broken collarbone.

All is not lost for the Raiders, however. This is a team predicated on running the football, even before Campbell went down. Oakland is ranked No. 24 in passing yards per game and second in rushing yards per game.

Potential replacements at quarterback include Kyle Boller, Terrelle Pryor or a new acquisition.

Regardless, there are wins to be had for the Raiders the rest of this season. Here is a game-by-game look at how the schedule shakes up the rest of the way.  

October 23: Kansas City Chiefs

Record Without Jason Campbell: 0-0

Do not mistake the two-game winning streak of the Kansas City Chiefs as a sign of improvement. This is not a good football team.

In fact, this is a great opportunity to start the Campbell-less quarterback era with a W.

In 2010, when the Chiefs were good, the Raiders swept Kansas City. In 2011, Kansas City is struggling due to a devastating injury to Jamaal Charles and inconsistent quarterback play.

The Chiefs are mediocre at stopping the run and the pass. The Raiders will be able to run the ball behind Darren McFadden and control the clock, shortening the game.

In fact, that is the recipe for success in every game for Oakland from here out.

Prediction: Win 25-19 

November 6: Denver Broncos

Record Without Jason Campbell: 1-0

Fortunately for the Oakland Raiders the schedule is back-loaded with AFC West matchups.

Why?

Because Oakland gets to play Denver and Kansas City twice each.

The Denver Broncos have struggled mightily to this point in the season, going 1-4 and ranking near the bottom in every statistical category.

The question is this. Is Tim Tebow now Denver's ace in the hole?

In 2010, Oakland defeated Tebow and the Broncos by 16 points. This year, the Raiders are improved and the Broncos have taken another step back.

Even without Campbell, the Raiders can move the ball on a defense ranked poorly in run defense and pass defense.

Prediction: Win 31-21 

November 10: At San Diego Chargers

Record Without Jason Campbell: 2-0

Not a bad start without Campbell, right?

Well, matters get infinitely more challenging against the division-leading San Diego Chargers in this Thursday night affair.

Although the Raiders swept the Chargers in 2010, this is a different San Diego team. The Chargers are led by a plethora of offensive talent including Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews, Vincent Jackson, and Mike Tolbert.

If that is not enough, the Chargers may have Antonio Gates back in uniform by November.

The Raiders will likely fall behind in this one, forcing the new quarterback to throw often. That spells disaster for Oakland and will result in a division loss.

Prediction: Loss 16-33 

November 20: At Minnesota Vikings

Record Without Jason Campbell: 2-1

The look on Adrian Peterson's face says it all. The Minnesota Vikings are in disarray.

Minnesota's struggles are Oakland's gains in this mid-November tilt.

Oakland will have had extra days to prepare and rest coming off of a Thursday night game. Conversely, the Vikings will be recovering from a Monday Night Football game against the rival Green Bay Packers.

This game will not be easy, though. There is something to be said about Minnesota's ability to run and stop the run. The Raiders will be forced to pass to some extent.

That being said, Oakland will prevail in a close one versus a defeated Vikings team.

Prediction: Win 17-13

 

November 27: Chicago Bears

Record Without Jason Campbell: 3-1

This is the first game where missing Campbell will affect the outcome of the game.

With Campbell, the Raiders stack up well against a Bears team that is not statistically relevant in any single category.

The Bears have not won on the road yet, and have lost by a combined 28 points in two road contests.

However, the Bears will win this game at Oakland versus the Campbell-less Raiders.

Chicago's Jay Cutler will be able to pick apart a passing defense ranked No. 28 in the league. The Raiders will fall behind early, forcing the backup to pass early and often.

Prediction: Loss 30-23 

December 4: At Miami Dolphins

Record Without Jason Campbell: 3-2

The Raiders could not have planned a much easier schedule following a devastating injury.

Oakland gets to play another much-maligned team in the Miami Dolphins on the first Sunday in December.

The winless Dolphins have all kinds of problems at quarterback and stopping the pass. With Chad Henne injured, we will get the chance to see how backup Matt Moore performs tonight versus the New York Jets.

Even with Henne the Dolphins were a bad team. They have had all kinds of trouble winning at home under Tony Sparano.

That trend will continue when hosting the Raiders.

Prediction: Win 25-16 

December 11: At Green Bay Packers

Record Without Jason Campbell: 4-2

By this time, the Raiders will be settled in with a new quarterback under center.

It will not matter.

Even with Campbell, the Raiders would not stand a chance against Green Bay. Apparently, no team in the NFL does, especially at Lambeau Field.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will pick apart a struggling Raiders secondary all day. The Raiders will be playing from behind and will not catch up.

Prediction: Loss 35-13 

December 18: Detroit Lions

Record Without Jason Campbell: 4-3

There is a trend that will continue for the Raiders in this game. High-flying, pass-centered offenses will be the Achilles' heel for the Raiders the rest of the season.

Led by Matthew Stafford, the Lions will score a ton of points versus Oakland's defense.

Watch for the Raiders to keep the game close, however, by running the football early. The Lions struggle to stop the run, ranking No. 26 in that category.

If Oakland refuses to abandon the run even if falling behind, the Raiders can keep this game close. However, Detroit will have too much fire power and win in a high scoring affair.

Prediction: Loss 35-24

December 24: At Kansas City Chiefs

Record Without Jason Campbell: 4-4

The Oakland Raiders will be right in the thick of a playoff race at this point in the season. 

The Kansas City Chiefs will be in the thick of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

Combine those two factors, and you have another Raiders sweep of this season series. If this game were earlier in the season, Kansas City would stand a decent chance of winning with the game at Arrowhead Stadium. 

However, given the circumstances of these teams with the end of the season drawing near, the Raiders will again take care of business.

Prediction: Win 27-12

 

January 1: San Diego Chargers

Record Without Jason Campbell: 5-4

This matchup has the ingredients to be a game of serious consequences for each teams' playoff aspirations come January.

The Oakland Raiders will need this win to make the playoffs.

The San Diego Chargers, on the other hand, will have cinched the division at this point. 

With the Chargers likely resting starters in plans to begin the postseason healthy, the Raiders will have a great opportunity to steal a late victory.

Oakland will run the football and take a safe and secure win to end the regular season.

Prediction: Win 23-15

 

Conclusion

Final Record Without Jason Campbell: 6-4

The Oakland Raiders will remain in playoff contention, even with Campbell out with a collarbone injury.

Looking at the stats, the Raiders were not a passing team to begin with. The gameplan will remain the same without the season-opening starter. Run the football with Darren McFadden and set up play-action passes.

By being able to keep the same gameplan, the transition will be as seamless as possible, resulting in a 10-6 record to end the regular season.