Silver and Black Report

Super Bowl XLVI will feature two very deserving teams, with two passers looking to cement their legacies and one club in particular, searching for revenge after having their perfect season wiped away in this final game a few years back.

SBReport.net will take a look at what both the New York Giants and the New England Patriots have to accomplish to win this game and what would occur if either team gets to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy on Sunday evening.

THE CASE FOR THE NEW YORK GIANTS (NFC CHAMPIONS)

Unlike the Patriots, the Giants can wing it with Eli Manning, not worry about a ground game and still come away victorious. That talented unit of wide receivers, which features Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham, could provide enough troubles for a highly questionable Pats’ secondary and enable Manning to put up better stats than his counterpart at the end of this final game of the 2011 season.

The Giants moved the ball very well against a tough, solid tackling and fiery defense on the road to get to the Super Bowl. Their efforts in San Francisco were impressive. And this Bill Belichick defense is nowhere near the talent level of the 49ers’ unit.

Brandon Jacobs nor Ahmad Bradshaw, do not need big games. But a few draws, some Bradshaw pitches to the edge and Jacobs’ downhill style could help set a tone and keep New England off-balance.

Manning will need a 40-plus pass attempt effort to win this game.

On defense, it’s quite simple, keep the Patriots one-dimensional. Yes, that may lead to big numbers for Tom Brady, but the Giants have to shutdown Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis and hope that fierce pass rush can get to the quarterback enough to make life miserable for him.

That formula was used to win in 2007 – so if Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora cannot get heat on Brady, the Giants will be in a shoot-out all afternoon and hoping that Brady doesn’t have the ball in his hands late in the contest either up with a chance to seal the deal, or with the team’s fate in his hands.

The Giants secondary isn’t very good either, but they have playmakers in Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips. And if their pass rush is wreaking havoc, they have enough talent on the linebacker unit and back end of the defensive backfield to contain New England’s deadly  tight ends.

A WIN FOR MANNING WILL…

Wouldn’t it be sweet for Eli to raise the trophy in the ‘House that Peyton built”?

A second victory against Brady in a Super Bowl will put the younger Manning among the elite in New York sports history. He’ll easily surpass Phil Simms as the greatest signal caller in Giants’ history and place himself in the pantheon of the Big Apple’s greats.

I would put him ahead of Mark Messier, who delivered the Rangers their first Stanley Cup in 54-years back in the 1993-94 campaign. Manning will surpass Walt Frazier (Knicks), will cast a shadow over Joe Namath (Jets) and by career’s end, which could sound crazy, may even have a chance to take the crown as the greatest Giant ever, taking the mantle away from Lawrence Taylor, who revolutionized the linebacker position in the NFL.

Manning could easily place himself in the Mt. Rushmore of NY sports; along with Derek Jeter, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth – all who played for the Yankees.

THE CASE FOR THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (AFC CHAMPIONS)

On defense, Vince Wilfork will have to play the game of his life. Brandon Spikes will have to be a tackling machine and someone from that secondary – anyone – will need a key interception to slow Manning and that potent aerial attack.

A vital aspect of this contest is the week off. Belichick is a mastermind when given time to game plan, and with the Giants in such a roll, the bye actually is a major advantage for the Patriots – especially with Rob Gronkowski’s injured left ankle.

That two tight end set that New England deploys could give the Giants massive headaches. New York had breakdowns in coverage versus Vernon Davis and a 49er team that offered very little in terms of other targets in the NFC Championship game.

If Gronkowski can play and perform effectively, it will give the Patriots a chance to match him either against a slower linebacker or smaller safety, and others such as Aaron Hernandez, Wes Welker and Deion Branch could have huge games working the middle of the field.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Brady started the game in a no-huddle and uses it plenty throughout the evening in hopes of tiring the Giants pass rush, causing confusion in the secondary and prevent New York to make substitutions to their active front-seven.

Green-Ellis must be productive. They may not need well over 100-yards out of him, but it’s essential they can move the chains on short yardage with the run and offer more than what San Francisco did in terms of balance and versatility against an aggressive Giants defense.

Running right at the pass rushers and draw plays off of shotgun formations, quick snaps and other creative ways to get chunks of yards on the ground will be needed to keep Manning on the sideline as well. The one unit that took a beating when the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, in the game and via the media afterwards, was the offensive line of New England. This time around, they’ll have a chip on their shoulder and major incentive to play well against a New York team that has been chatty and boisterous along the defense the last few days.

ANOTHER RING FOR BRADY…

Brady has done it all. He’s a hall of famer to be and recognized as one of the elite sporting figures of this generation.

But a fourth Super Bowl title would be epic.

Brady could situate himself among the league’s immortals with a win. Not only will the Patriots need a big game from their star passer, but a larger-than-life stat line with a win could be the single greatest feat of his already stellar career.

New England enters this game with their most vital offensive component nowhere near 100% percent, per many reports. The defense they are heading into the game with may be the worst defensive unit ever in Super Bowl lore. Add  that he doesn’t posses a great rusher, nor an offensive line you could recognize immediately, and you’re talking about all the makings of a historic evening for Brady – especially since he’s still disturbed by his performance two weeks ago versus the Ravens and a few years back when his perfect season evaporated and a title slipped through his fingers, in a game which he played valiantly in and was in line to win another MVP.

Brady with a win, will stand-alone with Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas. From there, you can argue all you want about who’s the greatest. Then, you can add him to the list of greatest players to don shoulder pads, not just that played under center.

PREDICTION

Will Brady have a great game? Yes. Will Welker and the rest of the offense find a way to keep it tight through three quarters with the G-men? Absolutely. But I find it hard to believe, as much as I trust Belichick and his game-planning genius, that Raider cast-off Sterling Moore and that questionable secondary can stand toe-to-toe versus Manning and that passing game.

The New York pass rush will be relentless. And even if they face a no-huddle attack, they’ll find a way to make plays, get Brady moving in the pocket and force some throws down the field. With Gronkowski on a tender ankle, it really hinders what New England can do in their passing game.

What I find surprising is the line before the game? The Patriots have remained a 2 ½ to 3 point favorite all week. I know their regular season record and playoff seeding was taken into consideration, but the Giants are the hottest team coming into the game. The Pats are on a current 10-game winning streak, but they’ve faced Mark Sanchez, Tyler Palko, Vince Young, Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman, Tim Tebow (twice), Matt Moore, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Joe Flacco since their last defeat on November 6.

Oh, by the way, their last loss was against? Yes, Manning and the Giants.

COTTO’S FINAL SCORE: Giants 33 – Patriots 27    MVP: Eli Manning

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This year’s Giants remind me of last season’s Green Bay Packers. Like the Packers last year, New York had to win their final two games of the season to win the NFC East and make the playoffs. The Giants run will end with the Lombard Trophy, just like last year’s Packers.

Both teams will make adjustments at the halftime, causing the bulk of the scoring to occur in the second half. The Giants will get their running game going to assist Manning and the receivers, along with keeping Brady off of the field as much as possible. Brady and the Patriots will have a chance to win the game late, but much like in 2007, the Giants defense will hold strong and secure the New York’s fourth Super Bowl victory.

MCCLAIN’S FINAL SCORE: Giants 28 – Patriots 24    MVP: Eli Manning

BOB CARR’S PREDICTION: Giants 38 – Patriots 24    MVP:  Eli Manning

ERIC STRAUSS’ PREDICTION: Giants 27 – Patriots 17   MVP: Eli Manning

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If you’re a fan of the NFL, this is a bittersweet weekend because you are getting a full day worth of football, but very agonizing if you expected your team to be in this spot and you begin to realize that the season is winding down.

The New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are in the final-four. Winners go to the Super Bowl. The losers lament a season that just fell short of being on the grand stage.

RAVENS vs. PATRIOTS

For Baltimore, it’s a simple formula…

Run Ray Rice and hope to get enough pressure on Tom Brady to slow down his offensive onslaught.

In their last playoff meeting, Rice had a monster outing and then boasted about it being his finest day as a pro. The Ravens rushed that afternoon for 234-yards in a 33-14 win at Foxborough. The same must happen again.

Baltimore has to play keep-away, control the clock and pound that suspect New England defense. Yes, the Patriots played inspired football last weekend and looked fiery versus the Broncos. But that was a different offense. The Ravens are far more versatile and can move the chains with consistency with a balanced attack.

Sure, Tom Brady will put up points. That Ravens secondary doesn’t have the talent at cornerback to match-up outside with New England, nor do they want to use their linebackers and safeties in space to cover the best tight end tandem in the league. But ultimately, if Terrell Suggs and the rest of the front-seven can get into the pocket, that can shift the flow of the game dramatically.

Brady is a master and on a mission. Bill Belichick can still game plan with the best of them. And having the game in New England will be vital.

Ultimately, I trust Brady more. And even with all their flaws on defense, I can’t see Joe Flacco playing a mistake free game. As much as I like Rice and what he could potentially do, Belichick and co. will find a way to corral him and Brady’s arsenal will make the Ravens look slow and old.

PREDICTION: Patriots 34 – Ravens 27

GIANTS vs. 49ERS

Jim Harbaugh has the 49ers one-win from the big-game.

Who do I trust more? Eli Manning or Alex Smith? Easily… I’ll go with the man who has already won a ring and more importantly, a passer who has played league MVP-type football all-season for the New York Giants, but will be trumped by the likes of Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers in the voting.

San Francisco’s defense is legit. They are tough, as evidenced by some of the hitting last week and are stout versus the run. But even Brees carved them up and had the Saints up late in the 4^th quarter, while being a one-dimensional attack. The 49ers will get a heavy dose of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, and the Giants the last few weeks have had just as good as a aerial attack as anyone in the league.

Jacobs and Bradshaw are tough and shifty, can break big runs and will keep the 49ers off-balance enough to move the chains and help Manning’s play-action.

The 49ers need a major effort from Frank Gore. If not, they’ll have to depend on Smith’s arm again and that suspect group of receivers. The Giants secondary can be had. But can Kyle Williams, Michael Crabtree or Ted Ginn Jr. make enough plays? They were non-existent last weekend, and the only thing that saved the Niners’ offense was a career-performance from their all-world tight end, Vernon Davis.

Running the ball with Gore is a must. They need a 25+ carry, 130+ yard performance out of him. If they want to slow down that Giants’ pass rush, they must run right at Jason Pierre-Paul and neutralize New York’s four-man rush attack. If Perry Fewell has to commit extra men near the line of scrimmage to stop Gore, that could open it up for Davis, who has a clear advantage over anyone on the Giants defense who tries to cover him.

This game will be tight at the end. As I stated earlier, I trust Manning more, and if New York can apply some pressure on Smith, he’ll surely make a throw that will hurt  his team.

PREDICTION: Giants 23 – 49ers 17

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It’s a must-win game on Sunday for the Oakland Raiders (8-7) when the rivals San Diego Chargers (7-8) invade the O.co Coliseum. With a win and some help, the Silver & Black could either be a division winner, or a wild-card participant in the post-season. Either way, Oakland has to win and finish with an above .500 record for the first time since the 2002 season for a chance at the playoffs. “You have to embrace these moments because they don’t come around too often. You want to play your best football in the biggest games. As a competitor, you have to want that, but you have to enjoy it. It’s a fun time,” said Richard Seymour.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Oakland has to continue the trend of pounding Michael Bush at the Chargers. In seven career games versus San Diego, Bush has amassed 490-yards rushing (4.3) and four touchdowns, including his record breaking 242-yards from scrimmage performance earlier in the season.

“We’ve been doing a good job sticking to it and not getting behind where we have to turn to pass situations,” stated the running back.

Oakland has to play from in-front and pound away at the Chargers front-seven in hopes of demoralizing them but more importantly, keeping the attack balanced against a defense that has 13-sacks in their last four games.

On Defense:

Chuck Bresnahan’s unit is under scrutiny, but they’ll get back safety Michael Huff and may have a motivated Tommy Kelly, who was bypassed on the Pro-Bowl selection process.

“[Huff] gives you another outstanding competitor and another outstanding football player,” Bresnahan was quoted this week. “We’ll see where he’s at and judge it as the week goes on.”

Oakland’s secondary will likely be under a lot of pressure with Norv Turner possibly coaching his last game in San Diego and Philip Rivers wanting to go out with gun’s blazing.

The Raiders need to get a heavy pass rush and contain tight end Antonio Gates.

In 17 games versus Oakland, Gates has compiled 69-catches for 934-yards and nine touchdowns. That duty will likely go to Mike Mitchell.

Kamerion Wimbley had four sacks earlier in the season at San Diego, but has only tallied three others the entire campaign. The Chargers have been forced into seven turnovers in their last three games against Oakland, mainly due to the pressure placed on Rivers.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

Rivers has always been a closer, and nothing demonstrates that more than his 25-3 record as a starter in December.

Despite throwing a career high 19 interceptions, he was selected to the Pro Bowl roster. And with talk of Turner’s possible demise, he’s motivated to end the season strong.

“I think it is evident what I feel about [Turner],” Rivers said. “It has been an unusual year and a rough year. Hopefully everybody here, coaches included, will be able to gear up and go back at it next year.”

Rivers has thrown for 4,314 yards and is just the fourth quarterback in NFL history with four straight seasons over 4,000 yards. With one more touchdown pass, Rivers will become just the sixth quarterback in league history with at least 25 touchdown passes in four straight seasons.

On Defense:

Shaun Phillips has been a Raider-killer in his career, compiling 11.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 13-games against Oakland.

But it was Eric Weddle who made headlines this week, not just for his Pro Bowl nod, but his desire to keep the Silver & Black out of the playoffs.

“I don’t want the Raiders to go,” said Weddle, who is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions. “We have control over at least one more game, and who can go. “We’re going to try our hardest to spoil their postseason and keep them out of it.”

The Chargers have struggled with spread-offenses, so it will be interesting to see if Oakland puts the game on Palmer’s abilities, or do they try to re-establish a ground presence?

GAME NOTES

• “Everybody in the locker room wants to win and wants to win now,” Shane Lechler said about the team’s playoff hopes. “My situation is, hopefully I get to see this thing go full circle. I had it great when I first got here. … Just to see it go full circle would be good.”
• Carson Palmer on the importance of Sunday’s game: “These types of games, especially when you get to play them at home. These types of games are why you do what you do in February, March, April, May when nobody is watching. It’s why you stay up late at night watching film. This is why you do that, to be prepared. … This is a big moment for this team and our fans.”
• Darren McFadden will be out.
• For the first time in 16-years, all eight home games have been sold out.
• DE Trevor Scott was named this year’s Ed Block Courage Award winner.
• “I don’t know what the penalty thing is,” Tommy Kelly on Oakland’s record breaking penalty pace. “Coach stresses it, defensive coordinator stresses it, D-line coach stresses it.”
• Jacoby Ford will play on Sunday. Taiwain Jones practiced, but could be a game-time decision.

KEY MATCHUPS

Rivers vs. Oakland’s Pass Rush/Secondary

It’s been a strange season for the fiery passer, who will miss the playoffs but go to Hawaii in a few weeks. He’s into the rivalry and a huge statistical game versus a rival and keeping them out of the playoffs will be his motivation on Sunday.

Bush-whacked

San Diego was mauled by the Oakland offensive line in their first meeting. It will be in the Raiders best interest to start the game by establishing themselves on the ground and keep pounding on a defense that may want to go home early for the winter.

PREDICTION

Raiders 30 – Chargers 16
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On Saturday, two teams who need a victory and loads of help for a post-season berth will meet at Arrowhead Stadium. The Oakland Raiders (7-7) have squandered a divisional lead and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) are coming off a victory against the unbeaten defending Super Bowl champs and feel good under interim coach Romeo Crennel. History dictates this could be a solid match-up with a thrilling ending, as many times in the past, both of these rivals have met late in the season with either or both needing a win to make the playoffs.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Oakland has lost the personality that made them such a tough football team earlier in the season. They used to be a ground-based club, but since Jason Campbell’s injury and Darren McFadden’s absence, they’ve leaned heavily on Carson Palmer and have not been as successful running the football.

Carson Palmer has a career record of 3-5 versus Crennel and is very aware of his coaching prowess. “If there is one thing that I know, it’s that Romeo is a good coordinator. I don’t know what he’s going to come out in. I just know that they’ll be well-prepared and well-coached,” stated Palmer.

Palmer is 158-of-249 for 1,834 yards with 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions against Crennel defenses.

Kansas must realize that this is not the same Palmer they faced weeks ago. Safety Kendrick Lewis stated: “He has a better feel of how to get his play-makers the ball. You can just see that he’s a different quarterback because he’s comfortable with the playbook and everything that they’ve since setup for him.”

On Defense:

The seat could get hotter for Chuck Bresnahan if the Raiders’ defense collapses again or carries over their horrid play from last Sunday.

A few days later, Bresnahan was still answering questions regarding Calvin Johnson’s performance. “At the end of the day, we failed because, when you allow somebody to have 200-plus yards in receiving yardage and making impact plays like he did, we obviously didn’t do a good enough job on defense,” said Bresnahan.

Oakland must pressure Kyle Orton, who sprayed the ball around to ten different targets and amassed nearly 300-yards passing on Sunday.

No pass rush this week for Oakland will equate to a long afternoon.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

On Offense:

“That was about the most fun as I’ve had on a football field,” Orton stated about their game versus the Packers.

They ran the ball for 139 yards, led by Thomas Jones’ 15 carries. Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe and tight end Leonard Pope, led the way last weekend.

What will be imperative for the Chiefs is their play calling and execution when they get inside the 20-yard line. They needed three Ryan Succop field goals to pull off a win last weekend. “We have to try to get touchdowns when we get to the red zone, which will become critical for us in the next couple of weeks here so we have to try to get that done,” Crennel said.

On Defense:

Tamba Hali will go against one of the better left tackles in the AFC. “Tamba comes to work every day,” said Crennel.

The speedy defender has five sacks in his last four games, and in 11 career contests against the Silver & Black, he has tallied 6.5.

Derrick Johnson has played fabulous football in 2011 and a lock to make the Pro Bowl. He also is furious about their recent lack of success at home versus Oakland.

“That just has to stop,” ILB Derrick Johnson said. “A couple times they came in and whipped us. That has to change. We remember last year where they just punked us good.”

GAME NOTES

• “There’s a good chance he could be back out there and give us a little spark and a little lift in another area for our football team,” Hue Jackson said of rookie Denarius Moore and the possibility of seeing him back on special teams on Saturday.
• “He’s carried the ball quite a bit,” Jackson commented on RB Michael Bush. “There was a stretch there where he was averaging 30 attempts a game.” Bush has surpassed career totals in rushing and carries.
• Jacoby Ford, Darren McFadden and John Henderson will likely be out. It doesn’t look good either for Michael Huff, who was inactive versus the Lions and was a no-show in practice.
• Marcel Reece on Oakland’s chances at the post-season: “We’re still playing for the playoffs. We’re playing for each other right now. And that’s what it all comes down to, playing for the next man, that man next to you because that’s what we want… We’re still playing for the playoffs because we still believe we have a chance.”

KEY MATCHUPS

Kyle Orton vs. Carson Palmer

Both passers have the ability to light it up. Palmer was impressive last week, and his only miscue was an overthrow to Moore. Orton was sacked five times last time he met the Raiders, but that was in Denver and he did not have this set of wide receivers.

Special Teams?

Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas are elusive and dangerous. Oakland’s pair of kickers will be vital, both putting up points in a tight game and shifting field position with their powerful legs.

PREDICTION

Raiders 27 – Chiefs 23

Oakland has been a better road team this season. The Chiefs would love to end their season, but talent will win out, as Oakland will get back to running the football. Kansas City will play a solid game, but the Raiders are more desperate and playing in a hostile environment. That will raise their focus and keep them alive another week.
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Both the Oakland Raiders (7-6) and the Detroit Lions (8-5) are in desperate need of a win when they face on Sunday. Oakland is currently chasing the Denver Broncos for the division lead and are on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. The Lions are currently a fixed as a wild-card entrant to the post-season, but a loss could easily push them right out of that spot. “We have to go 3-0 in the next three weeks,” Carson Palmer said this week. “There is no other option, no other route. If you want to make it to the playoffs and then you want to play well in the playoffs, you have to be playing really good football at this time of year. We got to start on Sunday.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Denarius Moore, who missed the last three games, could see action for the Silver & Black this week. Oakland needs to find ways to jolt the offense, and the rookie’s return could be a way to do it.

Darren McFadden will be out again and Taiwan Jones is questionable to play.

If there was a week to get the ground game going, it’s this one against the Lions 27^th ranked rush defense. The only team that is allowing more yards per carry than the Lions is the Raiders.

Jared Veldheer, a native of Grand Rapids, could spearhead the attack. “He’s big and he’s smart, and when you are an offensive lineman, that’s half the battle,” Jim Schwartz said this week about Oakland’s young left tackle. “He just looks different because he’s so big and so long. Coming from a smaller school and being successful right away tells you how smart and hard-working he is.”

“Our offensive line coaches had good grades on him,” commented Kyle Vanden Bosch. “They really liked him when he was coming out. He’s had some good games against some really good defensive ends.”

On Defense:

If the Raiders don’t sure up their ground defense as the season winds down, they’ll get exposed in the next few games and then they could point to that as one of the key reasons why they failed ot make the post-season.

“It’s a unit out there, so all 11 guys have to do their responsibility and all 11 guys have to finish the play, but it is tough,” said Chuck Bresnahan.

Detroit does feature a potent pass attack with a young passer and a fleet of young targets. So a steady pass rush and solid play at the back-end of the secondary is a must.

“Then of course, they want to go down field. They’re going to throw it to big number 81 [Calvin Johnson] and little number 16 [Titus Young] down the field, so you’ve got to be ready at all times,” Bresnahan continued.

DETROIT LIONS

On Offense:

Running back Kevin Smith was a full participant on Friday and is expected to play against the Raiders. Last week, Ryan Grant had a solid game against Oakland’s fading rush defense, but will the Lions deviate from their usual game plan in order to establish a presence on the ground?

One thing’s for sure, as long as they are winning, their big play target is not worry about how many balls come his way. “As long as we’re winning, it keeps everyone happy,” Calvin Johnson said.

Oakland’s linebackers could have a long afternoon. Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler have used their seize to help out Matthew Stafford. “[TEs] have to be physical and create space,” Scheffler said. “We can’t let [the Raiders LBs] get their hands on us.”

Detroit has the 5^th ranked aerial attack, featuring Stafford’s 29 touchdowns, only 14 interceptions and rating of 92.6

Johnson is the 4^th in the league with 1,121 receiving yards, with a NFL leading 12 scores by a wide receiver.

On Defense:

“It’s not like [Palmer’s] a statue, but he’s not a scrambler,” Schwartz said of Oakland’s passer. The Lions have tallied 35 sacks in 2011 and nine in the last four games.

Detroit ranks third in the NFL with 29 takeaways and are tied for second with 18 interceptions. The Lions lead the league in defensive scoring with 36 points. Oakland is knotted at second for throwing most interceptions in the NFL.

Just like the Raiders, Detroit is starting to feel the playoff-heat, and one of their leaders on defense stated that the time is now. “Everything we’ve done for 13 weeks is all for nothing if we don’t win (Sunday),” Vanden Bosch said. “It’s all about getting into the playoffs. This is our chance.”

GAME NOTES

• Since 2000, the Lions are 1-7 in games played in the Pacific Time zone. Their lone win – a 36-21 win at Oakland in 2007.
• Detroit has 105 penalties this season, while Oakland has a league leading 130 infractions. “Any little thing, (officials) are going to try and throw a flag,” DT Corey Williams said.
• Oakland is allowing 160.2 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks.
• Detroit is 5-0 against teams with losing records and 3-5 versus clubs at .500 or better.

KEY MATCHUPS

Suh & Seymour: Which team will make the mental mistakes? Get flagged at critical times?

Richard Seymour and Ndamukong Suh are targets for the officials. Suh has hurt the Lions with his undisciplined play; Seymour has been exuberant to say the least a few times this year and was booted in Miami and a no-show on the stat line last week. Both teams know how to shoot themselves in the foot… who does it the fewest times, or more importantly, who looses their cool when it counts?

Bad Run D vs. Bad Run D

Neither team sports a solid run stuffing unit. What Detroit does posses is an explosive passing attack. Oakland has to find a way to get big plays. Young and Johnson are tough to handle, and Detroit has two solid tight ends. If Oakland’s offensive line does not dominate, Detroit will romp.

PREDICTION

Lions 29 – Raiders 20

At this point, Detroit has far more weapons they can depend on. Oakland’s secondary can be had, and unless they bring relentless heat, Stafford can pick Bresnahan’s defense apart. One good thing for the Raiders – the Broncos are facing the Patriots. Tim Tebow can’t possibly win another? Right?
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The Green Bay Packers (12-0) are looking to clinch a first round bye in the playoffs with a win versus the Oakland Raiders (7-5). The Silver & Black are locked-up with the Denver Broncos (7-5) with just weeks remaining atop the AFC West. There’s no questioning who the desperate team is here, but Green Bay has visions of an undefeated campaign and a historical finish to their season – going perfect all the way through an scoring a consecutive Super Bowl victory. Hue Jackson’s team has to travel to a chilly environment and show that they belong with the upper echelon clubs in the league.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s another week of who’s who on the infirmary report on offense, with running backs Darren McFadden [foot] and Taiwan Jones [hamstring] officially out on Sunday. Wide receivers Denarius Moore [foot] and Jacoby Ford [foot] also will not play against Green Bay.

Michael Bush will make his sixth start of the season against the 13^th ranked rush defense. “We need to get back to playing Raiders football, get back to doing what we do,” Jackson said. “We’re a big, physical football team and we need to play that way. We need to be able to stop the run and we need to be able to run the ball. That’s where it starts for us and that’s where it’s going to end. We need to be who we are and that’s what we plan on doing.”

A solid run game could keep Carson Palmer upright on Sunday, but more importantly, keep the Packer offense off the field.

“Control the clock,” Palmer said. “We weren’t successful the last two weeks running the ball, and it’s definitely on our minds, something we’re getting screamed at and ripped for, but something we’re working very hard on, because you have to keep the ball out of Aaron’s hands and keep those receivers off the field.”

On Defense:

It’s all about getting to Aaron Rodgers this week if you’re the Raiders. Problem is, you can’t blitz the league’s leading passer too often. Rodgers’ overall passer rating is an NFL-best 125.3, but when he’s blitzed it’s a staggering149.3.

So Oakland must get to the passer with four down linemen. Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly have to be disruptive in the trenches, and the likes of Jarvis Moss, Lamarr Houston and Trevor Scott have to win their battles on the edges.

“You have to get him off his rhythm,” stated Chuck Bresnahan.

Making Green Bay one-dimensional is a must. James Starks may not play, so containing Ryan Grant, who rushed for a career high against Oakland in 2007, is imperative. The Packers rank 29^th in the NFL rushing the football.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

On Offense:

The last time the Raiders defeated Green Bay, Rodgers was four-years old. The quarterback is at the top of his game and Oakland’s secondary knows it.

“They definitely have an ace at quarterback,” cornerback Lito Sheppard said. “He’s definitely on the same page as his receivers. He knows what they’re going to do, when they’re going to do it and how they’re going to do it. He’s just really good with putting the ball where it needs to be for them to make plays. … Aaron Rodgers is playing like an MVP right now.”

“You see a quarterback that can make every throw on the field,” added Stanford Routt. “He has great receivers, great scheme, great defense — he’s got basically everything you need to be successful. He’s got a little of that Tom Brady, where he doesn’t mind who is going to be the leading receiver that Sunday. Obviously, they do have a lot of good receivers. They’ve got about two or three guys that are actually like number ones, so it’s definitely going to be a good challenge for us on the back end on Sunday.”

Green Bay had many key drops last week against the New York Giants, something that they focused on for their next contest.

On Defense:

The Packers will have Charles Woodson on Sunday, and possibly A.J Hawk, who returned to practice on Friday for the first time since he pulled a calf muscle on Thanksgiving Day.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop is out.

“Having A.J. up for the game to me is a bonus,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

One area the Packers are susceptible at is their pass defense.  They are allowing 306.7 passing yards per game (31^st in the NFL) and have only tallied 26.0 sacks in 2011.

They are opportunistic though, as they have tallied 23 4^th quarter interceptions, tops in the league.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Raiders Front-Four vs. Packers Offensive Line

It’s all about disruption, and whether Oakland can bring the heat with their massive bodies in the interior versus the Pack’s offensive line. If they can get to Rodgers with four down linemen, they will have a shot at staying close.

Bush-Time

Controlling the clock is vital – keeping the Packers offense on the sideline.  Bush has a career high 196-touches, but has been slowed the last two weeks. Has he hit a wall? Can Oakland regain their run dominance from earlier in the season? Palmer will have an easier time dissecting that secondary if he can have play-action to complement the attack.

GAME NOTES

• “Tyvon [Branch] is a Pro Bowl player, without a doubt,” said Bresnahan about his starting strong safety, this week. “This is a guy who every game he comes with his A game.”
• “Nope. I’m done for the rest of the year, rest of my career. It was fun while it lasted,” stated Rolando McClain about his self-imposed silence with the media.
• The Colts lead the NFL with 83 missed starts because of injuries. The Panthers are second with 80, followed by the Giants, Rams and Raiders 65 missed starts.
• “He’s a very poised quarterback,” safety Mike Mitchell on Rodgers. “’That’s the one thing I’ve seen on film. He doesn’t rattle very easy. He gets the ball out of his hand very quickly. And he really just trusts his one-on-one matchups. When he sees the one-on-one, he thinks that his guy is better than yours. So, as a defender, it gets you a little excited because you know that you’re going to get opportunities to play the ball and make game-changing plays. It’s also a lot of pressure because the ball is coming.”
• Since their loss versus the Patriots, Oakland is one of two teams in that span to allow less than half the passes against them to be completed, with their 49.5 percent mark trailing only the Texans. They’ve tallied 22 sacks and 11 interceptions in that span, holding opponents to a 68.6 passer rating — second only to the Texans.

PREDICTION

Packers 37 – Raiders 16

 

Here’s a look at their 2007 match-up with game images:

A Look Back: Raiders at Packers (2007)

And a look at how Charles Woodson revitalized his career in Green Bay, from January, 2011:

Woodson masterful in Green Bay, revitalized after career in Oakland

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The Oakland Raiders (7-4) are entering December in first-place, but embark on a critical stretch of back-to-back road games, which begins with the Miami Dolphins (3-8) on Sunday. “Seize the opportunity,” says defensive tackle Richard Seymour. “You’d rather play in games like this where every play is meaningful. It’s so much more fun for everybody.”

“Everyone realizes the opportunity that we have,” Seymour stated this week. “You don’t want to be the guy that squandered it away.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It appears that Carson Palmer will be without running back Darren McFadden and receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore on Sunday. Today, Moore skipped practice with a sprained right foot and Ford was seen jogging lighttly – all signs that both playmakers will be inactive once again.

Palmer has not played with McFadden yet, but has been the beneficiary of Michael Bush’s solid play in relief.

Against the Chicago Bears, Oakland mixed up their passing attack with Marcel Reece while also incorporating Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, who valiantly made it back into the line-up a week after sustaining a scary neck injury versus the Vikings.

“[Reece] looks like a fullback, but he runs like a receiver, and once the ball is in his hands he looks like a tailback,” Palmer said. “He is kind of a chameleon. Whatever we ask him to do, he’ll do it.”

On Defense:

The Raiders got their pass rush going against the Bears, something they’ll need to bring to Miami is they plan to snatch their fifth road win of the season.

Unlike Tim Tebow, Christian Ponder or Caleb Hanie, Oakland does not have to worry about Matt Moore scampering out of the backfield, as he’s more of a pocket passer. This should give the Raiders a chance to put the Dolphins in some compromising down and distances.

Miami has allowed 34-sacks so far, so expect Oakland to be aggressive all afternoon. Jake Long and the rest of his line mates were flagged for four false starts in Dallas last week.

Despite missing practice on Wednesday, Seymour and starting middle linebacker Roland McClain are expected to start.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

On Offense:

Reggie Bush has taken a heavier load as of late and he’s the type of rusher Oakland has issues with. His elusiveness out of the backfield and pass catching abilities will be a concern of Chuck Bresnahan’s.

In his last four games, Bush has tallied four touchdowns and 355 total yards of offense. Moore is coming off a solid month of November, posting a 112.7 passer rating – only Aaron Rodgers (131.6) and Tony Romo (113.0) were better.

Brandon Marshall is always a threat, especially coming off a touchdown and 103-yard performance on Thanksgiving Day.

Like the Raiders last week, Miami has suffered through red-zone woes. “That’s what really hurt us,” tight end Anthony Fasano said. “We learned that settling for field goals isn’t going to get us wins.”

On Defense:

In their last five games, the Dolphins have allowed an average of 72.2 yards rushing per game, second best in the league during that span.

Cameron Wake’s play has dropped off significantly from last season. Yeah, of course my sack numbers aren’t as high,” he said recently. “But I would like to think that I’m doing the things that I need to do to help the team win.”

He has freed up other teammates and has definitely caught the eye of Oakland’s passer. “Haven’t thought about Green Bay once, Miami’s too good. I see Cameron Wake in my sleep at night,” stated Palmer.

“There are so many things that go on that aren’t on the score sheet,” Wake said. “There’s no stat for [Paul] Soliai taking on a double team to let Karlos [Dansby] come through the hole and get a tackle for loss. There’s no stat for holding two guys so someone else can make a play.”

KEY MATCH-UPS

Raiders’ ground attack vs. Dolphins’ defensive front

Bush ran for 69-yards last week, his lowest total since starting in place of McFadden. Oakland had a season low 73-ground yards also versus the Bears. They have to re-establish their presence running the ball to come away with this road win.

Moore vs. Raiders 2ndary

Oakland’s defensive backfield can be had. Moore and Marshall are a dangerous combination. Fasano and Bush could also cause havoc. If Moore doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll wind up with hefty numbers on Sunday.

GAME NOTES

• In the last four games, Miami has only allowed two touchdown passes and racked up six interceptions.
• Sebastian Janikowski was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after posting a franchise record six field goals last weekend.
• Jason Campbell has been doing some light throwing, as he recovers from a broken collarbone. “He has been pitching it around a little bit. Not very far, but he’s pitching it around a little bit and getting better. So we’ll see where he is here soon,” said Hue Jackson.
• Jarvis Moss hopes to return this weekend: “I just did some jogging out there, and it felt good compared to last week. It feels better every single day,” he said earlier this week.
• Since 1992, the Dolphins are 10-3 against the Raiders.

PREDICTION

Raiders 24 – Dolphins 20

Oakland can’t look ahead at the Green Bay Packers. A slip could be hazardous in the tight AFC West. The Dolphins should take advantage of a blitz heavy Raider defense with Moore, Fasano, Bush, Marshall, Brian Hartline and Davone Bess. It won’t be easy for the Silver & Black, and Miami has found its stride as a spoiler in the last few weeks. But Oakland has the superior talent and a sense of urgency to pile the wins now, as they enter a tough stretch of football.

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Like the Oakland Raiders (6-4), the Chicago Bears (7-3) lost their starting quarterback, and it appears that Jay Cutler may not be available for the remainder of the regular season. But the Silver & Black were able to take advantage of the trade deadline and bring in Carson Palmer just days after Jason Campbell went down. Caleb Hanie will make his first career start, stating, “I know where I am in the offense, I know what I’m doing in this offense. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford are likely out again, as they both sat out of practice on Thursday. Hue Jackson stated, “We’ll see if we can get anything out of [McFadden or Ford] tomorrow.”

That means that Michael Bush will continue his run as a starter. In the last four games, Bush has 96-carries, 461-yards and 2 scores on the ground.

Jared Veldheer, coming off his stellar performance versus Jared Allen last weekend, now gets Julius Peppers. “That’s what pro football is all about. You play the best, and when you’re able to hold your own, you start to realize you’re starting to become something,” stated Jackson about his tackle.

With Ford missing time in practice and Darrius Heyward-Bey recovering from his neck injury last weekend, Oakland were forced to practice with only three receivers this week.  Denarius Moore also was held out due to a foot ailment.

“It makes it difficult,” Palmer stated. “You don’t get the same guys on the field from the week before, that rhythm and timing thing slows down a little bit. So we have our work cut out for us.

On Defense:

“We’ve got better players than we had in the past,” defensive tackle Tommy Kelly commented this week. “But we’re also making the job a lot harder than we have to. We say that to ourselves a lot on the sideline. But in the end all you’ve got to do is win the game.”

Last week, the defense dodged a bullet with Adrian Peterson’s early departure. Now they get Matt Forte, who is the NFL’s fourth leading rusher (926-yards). Oakland will undoubtedly stack the line of scrimmage and hope to force the young passer into long down and distance situations.

“Really, probably the blue print of how they’re going to play us – I’m guessing – is what they did against that rookie quarterback in Minnesota, where they pressured a lot more than they had been pressuring,” Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice was quoted. “I look for them to do something like that, to us. And they’ve got a nice blitz package. We’ll be ready for it.

“We’re 11, 12 weeks into the season. We’ve seen just about everything. There are only so many blitzes.”

CHICAGO BEARS

On Offense:

Hanie is mobile enough to escape and hurt the Raiders out of the pocket. Surely, the Bears have seen film of Tim Tebow running for 118-yards and Christian Ponder for 71-yards the last three weeks.

But they’ll have to lean heavily on Forte, who is the type of shifty rusher that gives Oakland fits. He’s also a threat out of the backfield, which will put pressure on the Raiders linebackers and safeties.

“Teams have tried to play us the last few weeks, they stack the box, try to get the running game out, and beat them with the pass,” Hanie said. “Luckily last week we were able to beat them with the pass. Hopefully we can keep the big plays and keep our explosiveness.”

Those big plays, if they do come in the passing game, could be screens versus an aggressive Raider bunch or off misdirections and bootlegs.

On Defense:

Chicago’s defense allows 20.1 points per game (14^th in the NFL), 270.7 pass yards a contest (30^th) and 101.2 rush yards per game (11^th).

Over the last six weeks, the Bears have allowed a league low 66.8 rushing yards. They also rank second in the NFL with 23 turnovers. “I wish it wasn’t the issue, but I think you look at the way we’re set up, in my mind, we’re still a defensive team and (on) special teams, we can score at any time, which is a good thing,” Brian Urlacher said.

Urlacher, D.J Moore and Major Wright, all have three interceptions apiece.

Peppers leads the team with 6.0 sacks. Henry Melton (4), Amobi Okoye (3) and Israel Idonije (3) have also been hunting opposing passers.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Devin Hester is the ultimate x-factor whenever the Bears play. He can swing momentum, alter field position or score at any given moment when he’s returning.

But Oakland in the past has not been afraid of the dynamic talent. In 2007, albeit with different players and coaches, the Silver & Black did not shy away from Hester. This time around, Lane Kiffin isn’t around to boast about kicking to him, but other players are.

“As a punt unit, I feel like we have the best weapon in the league in Shane Lechler,” safety Mike Mitchell said. “We’re going to punt to anybody. I don’t think we’re afraid to punt to a specific player.”

“As far as I’m concerned, no, it’s not the same attitude right now,” Lechler said regarding their first match-up four years ago. “That guy’s too dangerous.”

Mitchell continued: “After he gets machine-gunned a couple of times, he’s not going to be too quick to return punts. I’m not talking any trash, either. He’s the best punt returner, best returner besides Jacoby [Ford]. He’s awesome. But our mentality is, he has to play us.”

GAME NOTES

• Oakland is 4-1 on the road, but just 2-3 in front of the Black Hole. “You’ve got to win at home,” Palmer said. “You’ve got to protect your field. We’ve got to do a better job of keeping or crowd in it. We’ve fallen behind and not gotten off to fast starts.” The team sold out the O.Co Coliseum for the sixth straight game.
• “It falls squarely on our offensive line,” Roberto Garza said. “We have to do our technique better, move those guys and cover those guys up, and make those holes for Matt [Forte] and Marion [Barber] to run through.”
• “He’s a special player, to say the least,” defensive lineman Richard Seymour said about Forte. “He’s playing at an All-Pro level; we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
• Bears signed former Raider Josh McCown, who was the starter for the Silver & Black the last time they met.
• Chicago is averaging 32.2 points per game during their current five-game winning streak.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Containing Forte

The all-purpose running back can do it all and is a big play threat. Oakland has to be sure-handed with their tackling and stay disciplined in run support. Out of the backfield as a receiver, he has 46 receptions for 465-yards.

Hester’s hysteria…

If Oakland can keep Hester from shifting the field and putting up points on special teams, it could hinder Hanie’s first start. The young passer could get loads of confidence by having short fields to work with, or not having to shoulder the scoring burden.

Veldheer & Lil’ Wiz…

Again this week, Oakland’s youthful left side will be the spotlight. The Raiders need to get Bush going again and protect Palmer from an onslaught rush.

PREDICTION

Raiders 24 – Bears 23

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Sitting atop the AFC West, the Oakland Raiders (5-4) will begin the weekend as the hunted when they face the Minnesota Vikings (2-7). After their 24-17 road victory at San Diego, the Silver & Black have placed themselves in a position where they can control their own destiny the rest of the way, even though it’s a thin lead they hold within their division.

“We also recognize as fast as you’re in first place you can be out of first place,” Raiders head coach Hue Jackson said. “You have to do everything you can to keep it and hold on to it, which is winning. There is no other avenue other than winning to stay where you are and I think our players understand that and we don’t have a lot of conversations about it, but I think we do respect and know where we are, know what we’re trying to accomplish.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

No Darren McFadden again this week…no problem. Michael Bush will step in and attempt to mimic the performance he had last week against the Chargers, as that earned him FedEx Ground Player of the Week honors.

But the real challenge will be for the offensive line. The Vikings have the 6^th ranked rush defense in the league and historically have been one of the better ground-stuffing units in the NFL. Along with that stout front, they feature a furious pass rush with Jared Allen, who leads the NFL with 13.5 sacks.

This could be a game where Oakland uses their aerial attack to facilitate everything else on offense. Carson Palmer is coming off his best performance of the season, Minnesota is struggling in their depleted secondary and if Jared Veldheer and the rest of the line can handle the Vikings’ pass rush, they’ll be able to pick apart that cover-two scheme.

On Defense:

Their only objective will be to stack the line of scrimmage and slow down Adrian Peterson.

Oakland is ranked 25^th in the league versus the run. They’ve had some horrid performances against teams that assertively pounded the ball into the trenches. And no other rusher in the league faces more stacked fronts than Peterson does.

“He is as good as there is. He is a rare player,” Jackson said. “He is a really good young man, and a tremendous football player, loves playing the game, is as good as there is, so what a challenge for our defensive football team.”

During victories,  the Silver & Black have allowed 69.6 ground yards per game, but in losses, they’ve been torched for 211 yards per game.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

On Offense:

With 846-rushing yards for the season, Peterson ranks fifth in the NFL. “He is the straw that stirs the drink for our offense,” head coach Leslie Frazier said of his rugged rusher. “We got to get him going and keep him involved over four quarters. We want to attack Oakland’s run defense. That’s who we are, every week.”

“I mean there are times that defenders really don’t want to tackle Adrian Peterson,” Frazier continued. “They’ll hope that someone else gets in the way before they get to him. He strikes fear in opposing defenders in the way he runs.”

A powerful ground attack will help rookie passer Christian Ponder, who is coming off a bad performance versus the Packers, but has shown glimpses since being inserted into the line-up.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave stated that even through the rout at the hands of Green Bay, his rookie “remained poised and competitive and really just continued to be himself.”

On Defense:

The Raiders offensive line has only given up 11 sacks all season. Defensive coordinator Fred Pagac knows that he has to break them down if they want to slow down their offense.

“Well, game plan-wise we are going to be attacking where we think we can get to them, obviously Jared Allen has been doing a great job for us this year, Brian Robison has been doing a great job pressuring. We are going to have to run some stunts and games; we may have to run a few pressures at them. That’s all going to be game planned down the road,” he said.

Only the Colts are allowing more points per game, as the Vikings are ranked 31^st in that category, surrendering 27.1 points per contest.

GAME NOTES

• Oakland is fourth in the NFL averaging 156.2 yard rushing, including a 145.5 average in the past two games without McFadden. It’s cool getting the ball but it’s what I’m supposed to do,” Michae Bush said this week. “Running the ball, like I told the coach, `Just feed the stud.’ I told him that last week. Give me the ball and let’s see what we can do.”
• Jacoby Ford has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Denarius Moore has 23 receptions for the season and has been Palmer’s favorite target since he arrived. Nineteen of those 23 catches have been for first downs. With Ford out, Jackson commented, “I expect Darrius Heyward-Bey to have a big game.”
• In 8 career games versus Oakland, Jared Allen has 27-solo tackles, 6 sacks and one forced fumble.
• The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series against Minnesota 8-4.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Can the Raiders stop Peterson?

“We’ll definitely try to get our running game going, and they know that,” Peterson said. You don’t need any more information after that.

Raiders Offensive Line vs. Vikings Front-Seven

If Palmer is upright and is comfortable in the pocket, he’ll pick apart a really bad secondary. But Allen and the rest of the salivating rushers have to be gobbled up by Veldheer and co. Likewise with the run blocking. If the Raiders have another big rushing game without McFadden against this front, then you have to start considering the Oakland offensive line as one of the best in the league.

X-Factors?

Percy Harvin does not have a touchdown reception, but has been targeted 53-times this season. He also has 23 carries so far. He can be a dangerous return man as well. For Oakland, Kamerion Wimbley was unleashed last week and when a rusher gets on a roll, sacks come in bunches.

PREDICTION

Raiders 27 – Vikings 20

 

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The NFL has a pivotal AFC West match-up to open up their 2011 Thursday night schedule. Tied atop their division, the Oakland Raiders (4-4) will face the San Diego Chargers (4-4), in their first of two meetings this season. Oakland is in the midst of a two game losing streak and will be without running back Darren McFadden. “That mid-foot sprain is really something,” Hue Jackson said Wednesday. He continued: “You have to get back to just walking before you can do anything. If we can get him out of the boot, there will be huge progress.” San Diego has lost three straight and their star passer has a league high 14 interceptions. Carson Palmer hasn’t fared any better since being acquired by the Silver & Black, as he’s tossed six interceptions in six quarters of football.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Michael Bush will start for the Silver & Black for a second straight game. Yes, the Raiders will miss McFadden’s explosive talents, but they did run the ball well against the Broncos, as Bush tallied 73-yards on 11 carries at the half when they had a 17-7 lead.

Jackson only called Bush’s number eight more times in the second half and Oakland sputtered on offense.

Bush amassed 199-yards in the Raiders two wins versus the Chargers last season. They should lean heavily on his abilities and hope to force San Diego into stacked fronts before opening up the playbook for Carson Palmer.

Oakland cannot afford another multiple-digit interception game from their new passer.

It won’t help that the Chargers rank fourth in the league versus the pass, allowing 203.3-yards passing per game.

On Defense:

Chuck Bresnahan has been public enemy no. 1 in Oakland this week. His defense was lit up for 412 total yards in their defeat at the hands of the Broncos. What was frustrating for fans was how Denver compiled those stats, as Tim Tebow and Willis McGahee combined for 281-yards on the ground.

The Chargers have rushed for only 94.3 yards per game the last three outings. Philip Rivers has struggled, but Tommy Kelly believes that their quarterback and Norv Turner’s attack will be primed against the rivals.

“Phil has always been like a gunslinger. It just so happened this year that it hasn’t gone his way. He’s going to come ready to play. He has a real short-term memory, so it doesn’t even matter what he did against Green Bay. All he’s worried about is trying to torch the Raiders,” said Kelly.

The Chargers are averaging 295-yards passing a game (4^th in the NFL) and will face a struggling and depleted secondary.

DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chris Johnson won’t play; Lito Sheppard and Stanford Routt will start at cornerback.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

Ryan Matthews was upgraded to probable, meaning he will likely play and possibly start tomorrow night. Wide receiver Malcolm Floyd will not play, which could give rookie Vincent Brown a chance to get some reps.

Rivers knows the importance of this game based on the standings and what occurred last year between both clubs. “We haven’t beat these guys since ’09,” Rivers commented. “We lost both of them last year and obviously that had a big impact on us not making the postseason. So it’s a huge game for both teams.”

“There’s three teams deadlocked in the division and Denver’s spotting us all a game,” Rivers was quoted. “They’re right there in the thick of it. All four teams are alive. We’ve got eight to go. We’ll see what happens.”

San Diego can move it all day on the Raiders through the air. But if Oakland can generate some pressure, get to Rivers and force some of the miscues he’s fought through, then it could open the door for a road upset.

Turner would love to use Matthews and Mike Tolbert all evening, controlling the clock and re-establishing a presence on the ground.

On Defense:

With Luis Castillo out (leg), San Diego has struggled to get any production out of the defensive line. Corey Liuget and Vaugh Martin have not had enough of an impact at end.

Tommie Harris has been giving shots to play along the edge and he rewarded the Chargers with a sack.

Outside linebacker Shaun Pihillips, who has a history of playing well against the Raiders, will miss his second game and not likely to return till mid-month.

Antoine Cason will take over at one corner spot for rookie Marcus Gilchrist.

GAME NOTES

• LG Kris Dielman will be out. With Kelly and Richard Seymour, this is a match-up Oakland could try to get an edge at and apply pressure along the middle of the line in order to get to Rivers.
• Oakland’s penalty problems have been well documented, but the Chargers have also been infracted often – to the tune of 33 flags in their last three-games.
• The Raiders lead the series, 56-44-2.
• CB Sheppard on his first start for the Raiders: “This is what I’ve been begging for, this type of opportunity. I’ve got a lot to prove to myself and to this team and just everybody who’s been counting me out. I’m blessed by the opportunity, and I’ve been working hard for this day to come back around.
• “If I’m anywhere over 30 percent, then I’ll play,” said safety Michael Huff, who has a right ankle injury. “So it depends on how it feels.”

KEY MATCH-UPS

Lamarr Houston and the rest of the Raider defense has to flex their muscles vs. San Diego.

Will the Raiders stick to the run?

They had a 10-point lead and a ground attack that was working versus Denver before it mysteriously disappeared. If they can’t keep the chains moving with Bush and Taiwan Jones, San Diego’s offense will maul the secondary.

P.Rivers vs. Chuck Bresnahan

Turner wants to run the ball, but Rivers will have his chances against a Raider secondary that looked confused versus the Broncos and that has been victimized all season. Will this be the game Rivers shakes off all the mistakes?

PREDICTION

Chargers 31 – Raiders 20

Oakland is the walking wounded and as much as they may need an environment like this to get going – road game versus divisional opponent with first place on the line – their injuries will eventually catch up to them. McFadden changes the look of their offense, but Palmer has not had him since donning a uniform. The defense has far too many holes and face an attack that can really be brutal. If they lose Thursday, Oakland will have to shake off their slump quickly, because a three-game losing streak is not the way to go into the stretch run of the season. Their next meeting against San Diego could be for the west if Jackson can find a way to steer the ship through some treacherous waters.

 

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