Raiders rely on run
After their superb 34-24 win over the New York Jets, the Oakland Raiders look to be one of the NFL’s surprise packages this season, and if it wasn’t for a tight three point loss to the Buffalo Bills in week two, would be 3-0.
They also have one of the league’s brightest new stars in running back Darren McFadden, who has almost 400 yards rushing and three touchdowns in three games. That’s not mentioning his 84 yards with a score through the air.
But are the Raiders for real? Let’s look at both sides of the ball.
McFadden is the centre of an effective ‘ground and pound’ offense that head coach Hue Jackson has been almost forced into with injuries to key wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Rookie Denarius Moore has been Oakland’s only real passing threat, but one that QB Jason Campbell has looked to often, and with success, with nine receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns over the course of their last two games.
But despite all the positives for Raiders fans, it remains to be seen whether the team could cope with the loss of their new talisman McFadden.
Back-up Michael Bush is a competent runner, but lacks the X-factor that McFadden brings, and would be unlikely to provide the kind of play that Oakland would need from him to bring some stability to the production of an offense lead by the often-erratic Campbell.
However, the biggest worry comes when you take a look at the defensive half of the Raiders’ start to the season.
Ranked 28th in the NFL when it comes to concession of yards per game, Oakland’s pass and run defenses look fairly weak, and with opposition teams putting up an average of more than 27 points on the Raiders per game, their week 4 opponent, a certain Mr Brady, will be licking his lips.
Oakland’s game is not suited to falling behind and trying to haul back the opposition; it is one that necessitates controlling the game, and the clock, right from the beginning. Something which, against the better teams in the league, they may not be able to do.
The Bills managed to air it out to victory from behind against the Patriots. If a similar scenario is needed for Oakland this weekend, I can see the Patriots defense racking up some serious fantasy points with Campbell at least doubling his interceptions for the season to two or three.
In fact, the weekend’s matchup could signal the end of the Raiders’ ‘mini-revival’, with a fired up New England Patriots team looking to right the wrongs of a week ago, leaving Oakland staring down the barrel of a heavy loss.
But come Sunday, as throughout the season, the Raiders’ hopes will fall upon the performance of their marquee weapon. McFadden must stay healthy and produce, or Oakland’s season ends with a losing record. It could be as simple as that.
