Opponent Profile: Repulsive Oakland Raiders Can’t Find A Way To Win
(Credit, Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Broncos Central
Buy Broncos TicketsHome vs San Diego Chargers
Away vs New England Patriots
Away vs Oakland Raiders
By Rich Kurtzman
Oh, how far the Oakland Raiders have fallen.
It’s been a dozen seasons – 12 years – since the Raiders enjoyed a winning season. Go all the way back to 2002, with Rich Gannon at quarterback and Bill Callahan head coach, when the Raiders lost Super Bowl XXXVII in blowout fashion.
But it’s not just that Oakland is bad this season, at 0-8, they’re the worst team in the NFL. It’s so bad by the bay that the Raiders fired former Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen after an 0-4 start, putting Tony Sparano in charge. Since Sparano took over and buried a football near the Raiders’ practice field – to symbolize their season’s rebirth – Oakland’s lost four more, though they’ve been a more competitive team.
They actually led the San Diego Chargers for some of the teams’ Week 5 matchup before losing, then almost came back to beat the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but that effort fell short, as well.
Stats-wise, the Raiders’ offense is worst in the NFL in yards and second-worst with a mere 16.1 points per game scored. They turn the ball over far too much and are the worst rushing team in the league, too. Unfortunately for the black and silver, they face the league’s best rush defense in the Denver Broncos this Sunday. Darren McFadden leads the team with 358 running yards and two scores, while they also sport veteran Maurice Jones-Drew. But MJD has only received 26 carries so far, leaving McFadden as the feature back in his seventh season.
Derek Carr, rookie out of Fresno State, has started every game at quarterback for Oakland, with roller coaster-like results. He’s thrown an interception in five of eight games, and his four-touchdown contest versus the Chargers was his career-best. Carr doesn’t have the most talented receivers to throw to, with James Jones leading the team with 39 receptions, and tight end Mychal Rivera is second with 28.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders are decent. They’ve allowed a sixth-best 12 passing touchdowns to this point, though that number is likely to inflate while facing Peyton Manning this weekend. Weakside linebacker Sio Moore leads Oakland in tackles (42) and sacks (2.0) and a more familiar name to fans is the ageless wonder Charles Woodson. Woodson, the oldest defender in the league at 38, lines up at free safety and is still playing at a high level. He has two interceptions and six passes defended, both are team-highs.
When the 6-2 Broncos and 0-8 Raiders get together this Sunday in Oakland, it will renew an AFC West rivalry that dates back to 1960. And no matter the teams’ records, it’s bound to be a hard-fought contest.
Rich Kurtzman is a Denver native, Colorado State University alumnus, sports nerd, athletics enthusiast, and competition junkie. Currently writing for a multitude of websites while working on books, one on the history of the Denver Broncos and Mile High Stadium. Rich is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
