Countdown to Paydirt: Washington Redskins vs. Oakland Raiders
Tommy Kelly being held during Oakland's 16-13 win in 2005 at Washington
On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders (4-8) will host the Washington Redskins (3-9). It will be the 11th regular season meeting between both clubs with the Silver & Black holding a 8-3 edge including their victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Oakland has won four of the last five meetings including their last match-up during week-eleven of the 2005 season when Kerry Collins passed for 289-yards and the Raiders won 16-13.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
On Offense:
In three-games as a started, Bruce Gradkowski has elevated the Oakland aerial attack, which has tallied an average of 217 yards per game in that span. With Robert Gallery out for the season and the Raiders not running the ball all that well, rookie Louis Murphy emerging as a legitimate talent, Chaz Schilens back in the mix and a competent quarterback under center, its safe to say that the Oakland passing game is at its peak. They’ll get a formidable challenge from the Redskins this week who have the 5th best pass defense in the league (190.2 per game), but in recent weeks against Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans – all teams in the top-10 in passing yards per game – they have allowed 819 aerial yards.
Last week in Pittsburgh, Johnnie Lee Higgins had his best game as a target in some time after Darrius Heyward-Bey was inactive due to injury. “Yeah, it was rough. You know me, I’m a fighter, I just hate sitting back and watching, I want to be out there, but I just do as I’m told,” Higgins told reporters on Friday. “I go out there and when my number is called, I go out there and I perform. Complaining won’t get you anywhere. When it’s my time to shine, I go out there and try and do it.”
What to Expect:
Samson Satele is expected to start at center with Chris Morris taking Gallery’s spot at left guard. Oakland has to have some cohesion along the trenches if they don’t want Gradkowski scrambling against a Washington defense that has tallied 28-sacks (12th in the NFL). Short down and distances will be a key as well as other running situations in the red-zone. If Gradkowski can rally this team to another win, it will be a huge indictment on JaMarcus Russell as the Raiders usually struggle after wins and have rarely put together solid back-to-back performances during his time as a starter.
On Defense:
Greg Ellis’ knee has hindered him all week, limited his action in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for the game. Oakland will need a lively pass rush on Sunday due to the recent activity of Jason Campbell. Yes he has four interceptions in the last three contests. But he has also tallied 284 yards passing per game during that span.
Oakland has to bring the heat as they did versus the Eagles and Bengals in order to come away with a victory at home.
One player that helps in that aspect is Richard Seymour. And this week, he stated to the Boston Herald, “I still have an impact,” when talking about his play and the decision the Patriots made to deal him before the season. “Maybe I don’t get the glory all the time, but I free up somebody else and our team gets the success. I know what I bring to the table. They wish it was that easy to replace me, but it’s not.”
Richard Seymour getting to Carson Palmer earlier in 2009
Trevor Scott could be freed up this weekend, and in two games at linebacker, he has three sacks, four quarterback pressures and five tackles for losses.
“Originally when they first said it, I was kind of shocked just because I’ve never really played it before,” Scott said. “But I just took it in stride and ran with it. It was one of those things where you’re thrown into the fire, and sometimes that’s the best way to learn.”
What to Expect:
Oakland is still susceptible to big plays against the run and pass, and can allow big chunks of yardage on the ground. But they have been stout in holding teams to field goals instead of touchdowns when they get the red-zone, forcing a key turnover or getting a vital sack to push the opponents place kicker out of field goal range. If John Marshall is able to get his pass rush going, Oakland’s secondary will be able to pick some errant throws and give their upstart offense a chance at some short drives.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
On Offense:
“We could have been 6-6 and fighting for something,” Jason Campbell stated on the team’s official Web site after throwing for a career high 367 yards and three touchdowns. “Instead we’re 3-9.”
Clinton Portis was place on injured reserve this week, so Quinton Ganther and Rock Cartwright will carry the load the rest of the way. The second year rusher out of Utah has been more productive than Cartwright in recent weeks and now will be the fourth rusher to start in the backfield for Washington in 2009.
“I’m getting the opportunity that I haven’t had to show people what I can do,” Ganther said. “I just worked harder than anybody. The longer you keep you feet in the door, the better opportunity you have.”
What to Expect:
Oakland’s secondary will be tested by Santana Moss (49 rec. 642-yards 3 TD), Antwaan Randle El (40 rec. 458-yards), Fred Davis (32 rec. 319 yards 3 TD) and Devin Thomas (23 rec. 287 yards 3 TD). Chris Johnson has been picked on playing opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and far too often, second year pro Tyvon Branch and the rest of the Raiders secondary have been caught out of position on big plays. Many times, Oakland’s rush defense has allowed unknowns to have big games at running back starting for injured starters. If Ganther is given his shot consistently, he could have a career day.
On Defense:
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will miss his third game with a sprained right ankle.
Also, cornerback DeAngelo Hall will be out with a sprained right knee, as he will miss out on a opportunity to play against his former teammates During his eight-game stint by the Bay Area, Hall was torched and tormented by double moves and was a whipping boy of the fans after being traded and signed to an extension prior to the 2008 campaign.
“Al Davis told me it salary cap issues,” Hall said. “Coach Cable actually made the statement that they had somebody better behind me. So I kind of took a little offense to that, but I don’t have any hard feelings toward Coach Cable, the organization. It was a great, great, great time for me there, the short period of time that I was there.”
“DeAngelo’s a play-maker,” ex-corner mate Asomugha stated. “He wants to be free to go out and make plays and do what he does best. When you come here, you have to understand that you’re going to be in man-to-man 90 percent of the game. It was definitely something he wasn’t used to. It took some adjusting for him, and he never really got that full chance to adjust to that change.”
GAME NOTES
- In Washington’s first seven contest, they allowed an average of 17.6 points and 283 yards per game. In the past five, foes have amassed 23 points and 352 yards of offense per outing.
- Andre Carter has eight sacks in his last eight contests.
- Gallery’s spot on the roster could be occupied by Roy Schuening, who is able to play center and is currently on the practice squad.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Can the Raiders passing attack continue to move it downfield?
The 4th quarter versus the Steelers was explosive. If they can continue that output, they’ll be able to make life easier for a running game that has been disappointing and could use a boost from Darren McFadden.
Will the Raiders’ run defense get plowed?
This is the type of game where the Shonn Greene’s, the Jamaal Charles’ and Bernard Scott’s go wild on Oakland’s run defense. Campbell has been throwing it for big yards, the Raiders can allow big yards via the pass, and if Ganther rolls, there will be a lot of booing in the Black Hole.
PREDICTION
Raiders 26 – Redskins 19
TV & RADIO
The game will be televised on FOX with Dick Stockton providing play-by-play and Charles Davis handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KTVU Channel 2 and in Sacramento on KXTV Channel 40. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information was cited from the Official Oakland Raiders Web Site)
GAME INFO
Sunday, December 13, 2009, 4:05 p.m. ET | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, OAK, CA
Home Team: Oakland Raiders (4-8) Home: 2-4 Road: 2-4
Road Team: Washington Redskins (3-9) Home: 3-3 Road: 0-6
LINE: Raiders are a 1-point underdog
Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
