Silver and Black Report

With the hiring of Jason Tarver as the new Raiders defensive coordinator, it has been speculated that the Raiders may try and transition to the 3-4 defense. Tarver has mostly been around the 3-4 defense in his tenure with the San Francisco 49er’s and the Stanford Cardinals.

It remains to be seen yet if Tarver is going to implement a 3-4 defense, but he may intend to in the long run while he obtains the appropriate personnel to do so. The Raiders currently have players on the roster that fit the 3-4 mold, but would need to add some pieces to institute the 3-4 correctly.

One factor that may play into a transition to the 3-4 defense if finding a way to escalate the play of

middle linebacker Rolando McClain. McClain played in Nick Saban’s 3-4 defense while attending Alabama and earned the Butkus Award in 2009, given to the nation’s best collegiate linebacker. McClain was questioned as to whether or not he would succeed as an inside linebacker in the 4-3 coming out of college and has largely not lived up to his expectations yet in Oakland.

Linebacker Aaron Curry, winner of the 2008 Butkus Award, could work as an inside linebacker next to McClain. Curry is a stout rush defender but has struggled in defending the pass. With head coach Dennis Allen’s exotic blitz packages, it could be beneficial to Curry due to his ability to get to the quarterback and to stop the run.

Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, who played defensive end at Florida State, was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns to play outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. Wimbley responded by having 11 sacks in his rookie year, but then saw his sack numbers diminish before being traded to the Raiders in March 2010. Wimbley has since played well for the Raiders at the linebacker position, while being lined up as a pass rusher on passing downs.

One player that could struggle should the Raiders move to a 3-4 is defensive end Matt Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy has played well at defensive end, recording 92 tackles and 12 sacks in 35 games played for the Raiders. At only 270 pounds, Shaugnessy may be asked to move to the outside linebacker position for his pass-rushing abilities.

Defensive end Lamarr Houston has the athleticism and versatility to play as either a 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle. While playing for the University of Texas, Houston played both defensive end and defensive tackle. Houston’s size, 6’3” and 305 pounds, along with his tenacity and motor make him an ideal candidate to be a 3-4 defensive end opposite of Seymour.

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour has previous experience playing in the 3-4 defense. While on the Patriots in 2003, Seymour started 14 games as a 3-4 defensive end and finished with eight sacks and 57 tackles.

A difficulty that the Raiders may encounter should they try and run the 3-4 scheme is the lack of a true nose tackle on the team. In order to run the 3-4 successfully, the defense must have a big-bodied nose tackle in the middle to take up space and help stop the run. The leading candidate currently on the team to be the nose tackle would have to be Tommy Kelly, who is listed at 6’6” and 300 pounds.

If Tarver and Allen should choose to run a 3-4 base defense, they may need to try and find a true run-stuffing nose tackle to insert in the middle of the defensive line. They will also need to pick up depth at the inside linebacker position. For now, it appears that the defense will play both the 4-3 and 3-4 fronts as Allen stated, as it may take a couple of years to gain the personnel necessary for a full-time 3-4 defensive scheme.

The Oakland Raiders hired Dennis Allen on Tuesday evening. His prowess as a defensive minded coach was one of the major reasons why Reggie McKenzie selected him. Especially after a 2011 season in which Oakland’s defensive unit faltered in many vital spots and was a major reason as to why they did not reach the playoffs. Here’s a look at a few players to watch now that the Silver & Black have themselves a new head man:

Rolando McClain LB

There’s no denying McClain’s football smarts. But his ability to make impact plays, become a stout middle linebacker and consistently anchor the center of the front-seven has been a major concern, with little signs of elevating his game since entering the league in 2010. His off the field issues are also very troublesome.

Ultimately, with Allen on board, McClain needs to let loose and start stamping his name on the defense. A handful of plays a year in which people take notice is not enough. When you spend such a high selection on a linebacker of his talents, you expect far more production and steadier play, especially at this point of their career.

Michael Huff S

Does he go back to safety? Remember, at year’s end, reports were that Oakland had plans to shift him to cornerback. Yes, the Raiders desperately need to upgrade their talent at defensive back, but Allen may be also dealing with a very thin safety unit of Tyvon Branch departs. Huff is a natural free-safety and as I stated, “Usually cornerbacks get moved to safety, especially veterans – not the other way around.”

Not that he’s an old 28, but Huff should be left at the position he’s worked at his whole career and Allen should be able to mold him into a safety we all expected he could be when Oakland drafted him. Just look at the level of play Allen got out of the secondary when he was coaching the Saints in 2008-2010 for reference.

Chimdi Chekwa, Chris Johnson and DeMarcus Van Dyke CBs

All cornerbacks that were ideal talents for the old regime. McKenzie and Allen are now in charge, and there’s no safety net for either of those players. Yes, McKenzie stated that he loves speedy athletic talents. But Johnson got paid heavily based on a small sample set a few years ago under Al Davis’ watch and both rookies last season were scouted and selected based on what Davis and the past coaching staff found intriguing.

Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston DEs

Lamarr Houston needs to rev it up with Dennis Allen as a head-coach.

Both of these defensive ends have motors and either or both could develop into menacing players in the league with the right tutelage. Shaughnessy will coming off a season ending shoulder injury, but before that, was recognized as one of the better edge defending and pass rushing ends in the AFC. Houston’s play dipped significantly from year one to year two. Both are young, paid very little and could be major keys to turning around a struggling defense.

Aaron Curry LB

Curry was rejuvenated, played violently and looked every part the Raider once he arrived. If there’s one player you can point at and say, he’ll benefit the most from Allen’s arrival, it could be the former fourth pick overall in the 2009 draft.

Kamerion Wimbley LB

Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil were a major reason Denver’s defense soared at times in 2011. Wimbley, who was a sack machine in his first season with the Raiders, but saw his numbers drop off dramatically last season, needs to get back to his double-digit sack days. His contract dictates that, and his role will be of importance due to his veteran presence and potential output.

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SBReport.net will take a look at the best and worst moments for the 2011 Oakland Raiders; including top plays, standout players and performances, and a lot more…

MVP (On Offense)

Michael Bush, RB

Why Bush? If not for his 977-yards rushing, 418-receiving and eight total scores, Oakland would have been in deep trouble. Yes, Darren McFadden is their most dynamic player and a superstar-type talent, but he missed the entire second half and if not for depth at that position, the Raiders offense would have been stagnant. That’s why both need to be kept together.

Honorable Mention: Jared Veldheer, LT – He faced Jared Allen, Tamba Hali twice, Julius Peppers, Elvis Dumervil twice, Andre Carter, Cameron Wake in a season of growth and maturity into one of the better young left tackles in the league.

MVP (On Defense)

Tommy Kelly, DT

I felt he had a better overall season than Richard Seymour and got slighted in the Pro Bowl selection process. He had 7.5 sacks and was steadier game in and game out.

Honorable Mention: Tyvon Branch, SS – Improved his coverage skills greatly and continued to be stout when placed around the line of scrimmage. Now, it’s time for a payday.

MVP (Special Teams)

Sebastian Janikowski, PK

He altered the look of the offense. When other teams opt to punt, Oakland strolls out their powerful kicker. With a better defense, imagine if the Raiders offense didn’t feel the stress of going long-distances on drives with Janikowski on their side.

BEST COACH

Bob Wylie

Veldheer became an anchor and Samson Satele has proven to be reliable and durable. Stefen Wisniewski did not play like a rookie and the right side, which was a major question mark coming into the season, held their own. With a top ranked running game and very few sacks allowed, Wylie easily was Oakland’s most valuable staffer.

MOST IMPROVED (On Offense)

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

In a landslide… the maligned target ended with 64-receptions for 975-yards and four scores.

MOST IMPROVED (On Defense)

This award will not be given to anyone.

BEST ROOKIE

Denarius Moore, WR

A true play-maker who can stretch the field… and he was drafted in what round?

PLAYERS WHO DISAPPOINTED…

Lamarr Houston trying to amp-up the crowd vs. the Chargers.

Kamerion Wimbley, LB – Only had seven sacks, but four of them were in one game versus the Chargers. If he’s going to be out there, Oakland needs him to be a menace pass rushing and not caught in bad match-ups with the likes of Antonio Gates.

Rolando McClain, LB – An arrest, very few impact plays at middle linebacker… if he wouldn’t had the off-field issues, it could’ve been easier to ship the talent who may need a new start elsewhere.

Lamarr Houston, DE – Only one-sack for the second year pro.

CLASSIEST RAIDERS

Quentin Groves, LB – Moved out of the starting line-up when Aaron Curry was acquired, the linebacker got on special teams and played well.

Jason Campbell, QB – At the beginning of the season, it appeared that the stars were aligned for Campbell – team on the rise, he’s at the helm playing well, at the end of a contract. Now, he may not have many options in the market to start and may have to settle on being Carson Palmer’s back up.

PLAYER MISSED THE MOST… (due to injury)

Matt Shaughnessy, DE – He has a motor, can bring the heat and is a solid edge defender. It could’ve helped.

PLAYER MISSED THE MOST… (due to departure)

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB – Boy, did that secondary need someone opposing passers feared.

PLAYER WHO NEEDS TO BE INCORPORATED MORE…

Kevin Boss, TE – They are paying him well for only 39-targets, 28 catches for 368-yards and three touchdowns. Oakland’s offense also features a very good receiving fullback (Marcel Reece) and with all the youth at receiver and rushers than can also be threats as pass-catchers, its easy to forget about Boss.

MOST OVERRATED (on offense)

Jacoby Ford, WR

Injuries slowed him, but he rarely showed any of the glimpses we saw in his rookie season.

MOST OVERRATED (on defense)

Matt Giordano, FS

Yes, he led the team with five interceptions, but many of them were in the ‘right at him’ category. Too many times he took horrible angles in run support and missed on tackles to spring running backs for bigger gains.

Honorable Mention: Stanford Routt, CB – How many times did he get flagged? Teams were not afraid to go after him – not what you want out of a top-paid cornerback.

BEST MOMENTS

Tommy Kelly, Jarvis Moss & the rest of the defense had fun bullying Mark Sanchez.

• Rallying versus the Texans on the weekend of Al Davis’ passing – On a emotional afternoon, with heavy hearts, Oakland overcame a deficit and held on late, on the game’s final play to win their first game without the legendary owner.
• Bullying the Jets in front of the ‘Black Hole’ – They ran for 234-yards, beat up Mark Sanchez and enjoyed a 34-24 victory against a top team.
• John Madden lighting up the torch – It was the Raiders first game at home without Davis, and during halftime, the coach who made his mark with the Silver & Black, lit up a cauldron during a ceremony to remember his life.
• Winning three in a row and getting to 7-4 in late November.
• The Raider fans selling out all eight home games.

WORST MOMENTS

• Al Davis Dying – It’s still unimaginable that the man synonymous with the Silver & Black will no longer be with us.
• Second-Half vs. Bills – Ryan Fitzpatrick torched Oakland, as Buffalo scored at will on every possession in the second half. One stop by the defense, and the Raiders could’ve had another win.
• Chiefs Stomping – Losing to the Chiefs is always painful for the Raiders. But getting trounced at home 28-0 was just embarrassing.
• Losing four out of their last five games to end the season, including an embarrassing collapse against the Lions and the disastrous finale versus the Chargers.

BEST PLAYS

• Janikowski’s 63-yard field goal versus Denver – Tied for the league’s longest kick and gave the Raiders a 16-3 halftime lead. Oh, Janikowski didn’t really hit it cleanly.
• Moore’s 50-yard TD catch in Buffalo – That gave Oakland a 35-31 lead late in the fourth quarter. The Bills eventually won, 38-35.
• Huff’s INT versus Houston – The free-safety sealed the game with his interception, as time expired, and with the Raiders one-man short.
• Lechler’s TD – Oakland went up 24-7 against the Browns when Shane Lechler connected with Kevin Boss for a 35-yard score, off a fake field goal.
• Heyward-Bey’s 53-yard catch to set up the game winning field goal in overtime against the Chiefs.

BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

• Wimbley’s sack parade vs. the Chargers.
• Carson Palmer’s 14-20 for 299 and 2 scores against the Chargers.
• McFadden’s 171-yards rushing vs. the Jets.
• Michael Bush’s record breaking night against San Diego.
• Janikowski’s six field goals vs. the Bears.

BEST PASS BY A NON-QB

Shane Lechler’s TD to Kevin Boss.

WORST PASSES BY A QB

How many did Kyle Boller attempt vs. the Chiefs?

MID-SEASON ACQUISITION THAT WILL STICK AROUND…

Aaron Curry

MID-SEASON ACQUISITIONS THAT WILL NOT STICK AROUND…

Lito Sheppard

BEST QUOTE

“I’m watching [the] History Channel and Fox Sports Soccer.” – Tommy Kelly after being eliminated and asked if he would watch the playoffs.

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The Oakland Raiders took a few weeks to evaluate the situation, but today, made it official, placing Matt Shaughnessy on injured reserve, ending his season.

A few days back, the defensive end stated, “…I know I can’t go out there and risk injuring it even more. So, I got to wait until I get better.”

The injury on his shoulder was not getting any better, but he refused to divulge any info: “Uh, I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m even allowed to say what it is. But it’s hurt, I know that. … Right now it’s week to week.”

Oakland brought in defensive lineman Trevor Pryce some time ago for a workout, and considering all the moves on the defensive side of the ball lately to their secondary, it appeared that Oakland was getting themselves ready for like without Shaughnessy.

Jarvis Moss has stepped in during his absence and has played well.

They’ll miss Shaughnessy’s motor, stout run defense on the edges and ability to get to the passer. He was probably their most disciplined end, and considered one of up and coming linemen in the AFC.

As a rookie in 2009, he played in all 16-games, starting two and ending with four-sacks. He started eight contests last year, playing in all 16-games and tallying seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Shaughnessy had a sack in the opener against Denver, before injuring himself against the Jets.

“Everything is just evolving as we find out more information about exactly what’s wrong [with Shaughnessy] and what we need to do with him,” Jackson stated this month.

OUTLOOK

It’s a big blow because he’s one of the better young defenders on the team. His development into one of the better ends in the conference was expected. Richard Seymour has touted his abilities and has felt he could be one of the major weapons on the defense. If Oakland could survive with a major injury, it would be on this unit. They have enough depth along the trenches and can plug in Jarvis Moss and Lamarr Houston at both end spots. Trevor Scott, who hasn’t rounded into form since being injured last year, will have to take on a bigger role and produce at a higher rate. Desmond Bryant, who has played inside and on the edge, will take on a bigger role. They’ve been without Shaughnessy the last few weeks, so its not a sudden blow or a lost that should cripple what they are trying to accomplish on the defensive front.

 

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The Oakland Raiders triumphed on the road, beating the Houston Texans, 25-20, a day after the passing of Al Davis. Here are some of the highlights, key plays and players that deserved game-balls during this emotional and memorable victory.

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Davis’ maligned first round selection a few years back posted seven-catches for 99-yards and one touchdown. The significance of the score was paramount. It cut the Texans lead to 14-12 in the 3^rd quarter, and was the second time in as many plays he hooked up with Jason Campbell. Heyward-Bey bolted into the end-zone after breaking a tackle – the first sign of a momentum change in the contest.

Sebastian Janikowski

He was 4-for-4, booming his first three field goals from 54, 55 and 50-yards out. In the 4^th quarter, he extended the Silver & Black’s lead with a 42-yarder, 25-17. Davis took him the first round, a move that was ridiculed by many at the time, today proved to be one of the main reasons why the Raiders were in this contest. When the offense was struggling, Janikowski’s powerful leg took advantage of the short field given, when Oakland’s offense could not.

Lamarr Houston

Houston had his most productive game as a pro. The interception of a deflection early in the contest led to three-points. He blew up runs at the line of scrimmage, was not fooled on a few of Matt Schaub’s bootlegs and play-action, and constantly won his individual match-ups all afternoon.

Richard Seymour

Yes, he had another critical 15-yard penalty late, when Houston was driving, but his two-sacks in the second half crippled any drives Gary Kubiak’s team tried to put together.

Michael Huff

Sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. That football will probably be given to Mark Davis.

John Fassel

The punt block in the 1^st half helped Oakland stay in the contest, giving them a short field and eventually three-points. The fake-punt, which Rock Cartwright took for 35-yards was vital. Mike Mitchell corralled Jacoby Jones, who is a dangerous return man.

Hue Jackson

The emotional outpouring after the win on the sideline demonstrated how difficult the weekend was. He guided this group to a victory, directing one of the most memorable wins in recent Raiders history.

Al Davis

That was his team, playing an inspired contest, after a poor start on offense in the first half. The maligned defense slowed down Schaub, found a way to stop the bleeding versus the run, and kicked up the offense as the game went on. As Davis would say, “Just win, baby!”

 

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Here’s a summary of the best and worst for the Oakland Raiders (8-8) in the 2010 season:

MVP (Offense)

Darren McFadden, RB

By far Oakland’s most valuable offensive performer with 1,664-combined yards from scrimmage. Ten times he hit paydirt with either amazing runs or impressive scampers after catching the football.

Honorable Mention:

Robert Gallery, LG: He played next to a rookie for most of the season and is the steadiest along the trenches.

MVP (Defense)

Tommy Kelly, DT

Led all AFC tackles with 7.0 sacks and was the most consistent performer along the defensive line all season.

Honorable Mention:

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB: The best cornerback in the NFL. Made the Pro Bowl, was barely tested all year and was hobbled towards the end of the season.

LVP (Least Valuable Player) – Offense

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

The coaches can rave about his work ethic all they want, facts are, he has poor instincts as a receiver and is headed towards bust status.

Honorable Mention:

Chaz Schilens, WR

Nine catches for 40-yards and one score for the season. Most of 2010, he was injured and/or recovering from his ailments.

LVP (Least Valuable Player) – Defense

Chris Johnson, CB

Far too often, the target of opponents with Asomugha on the other side. The beneficiary of DeAngelo Hall’s departure in 2008, cashing in on his three interceptions, 12 passes defended and a forced fumble after replacing the dumped corner.

Honorable Mention:

Thomas Howard, LB

One of the locks to clean out his locker room for good this week. Barely made it onto the field in 2010.

Best Coach:

Hue Jackson, OC

Oakland ranked 31st in offense in 2009 and scored 197-points. In 2010, they ranked 10th and ended with 410-points.

MVP Special Teams:

Jacoby Ford, KR

Exciting to watch and always electric with the football in his hands. Had comparable stats to all the top return men in the AFC and had three kickoffs for scores.

Get Back Healthy:

Trevor Scott, DE/LB

Went on injured reserve. Wherever he played, Oakland got production. A solid veteran on and off the field.

Best 1^st Year Raider (non-rookie)

Kamerion Wimbley, LB

The Raiders got a starting linebacker and nine-sacks from Wimbley in 2010. All they gave up was a third round choice.

Best 1^st Year Raider on Offense (rookie)

Jared Veldheer, LT

Yes, you can make a case for Ford, but Veldheer played more reps at a tougher position as a rookie. Now, he looks to be the Silver & Black’s left tackle for years to come.

Best 1^st Year Raider on Defense (rookie)

Lamarr Houston, DE

Five sacks and improved play as the year went on. Beats out first rounder Rolando McClain, by far.

Underrated Player of the Year

Matt Shaughnessy, DE

Seven sacks and solid edge play all year. He has the look of a defensive end that will have a long and fruitful career. And if he continues to produce those types of sack numbers, he’ll be a very rich man very soon.

Honorable Mention:

Rock Cartwright, RB

Fiery vocal veteran that was unsung on special teams all season.

Energizer Award:

Mike Mitchell, SS

Loves to blitz, savors landing big hits. Even if the impact isn’t grand, he’ll get up and let you know it was.

The Perfect Timing Award:

Michael Huff, FS

Was in on 77-tackles, had 4.0 sacks and 3 interceptions. A possible unrestricted free agent, Huff may look to cash in. Still inconsistent, but at least he has numbers to justify his contract demands.

Best WR who is not a WR:

Marcel Reece, FB

Looked sharper in his route running than Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy or Johnnie Lee Higgins.

Honorable Mention:

Khalif Barnes, OL

No other Raider wide receiver was money. HA – seriously, two targets and two completions including a touchdown.

Say Farewell to…

• Bruce Gradkowski, QB: Jason Campbell belongs under center, without the fragile Gradkowski looking over his shoulder.
• Nick Miller, PR: Provides little when he actually returns a punt and doesn’t fair catch it deep in own territory. Does not look like a pro on the field.

We should see more of in 2011…

• Finding ways to get Jacoby Ford the ball in space. Bubble screens, receiver screens, end arounds and more importantly, receptions down the field, as he develops into a well-rounded receiver.
• Blitzing: Wow, when Tyvon Branch, Huff or Mitchell came in from their safety spots, Oakland did a lot of damage to opposing passers.
• The Michael Bush & McFadden combo: The Raiders need to keep that tandem together to spearhead their offense.

We should see less of in 2011…

• Blackouts – There you go fans; the Raiders just gave you a .500 season. Now fill the seats and support during home games.
• AFC West victories: It is unlikely the Raiders sweep their division again in 2011. If they do, they better take care of business outside the AFC West.
• Heyward-Bey: I know he gets paid a lot of money, was a 1^st rounder and the owner wants to see him succeed, but it will be a shame if one of the younger wide-outs get less reps because of DHB’s presence.

The Raiders will miss…

George Blanda and Jack Tatum. Oh, the players will miss Tom Cable if he’s not giving another year at the helm.

The Raiders have not missed…

JaMarcus Russell

Best Hit(s)

Rolando McClain slamming Danny Amendola and knocking out Darren Sproles.

Best Moments:

Sebastian Janikowski after nailing the game winning FG in overtime vs. Chiefs

• Raiders blocking back-to-back punts vs. the Chargers and building an early lead against their rivals. Eventually, the crowd was treated to a last second defensive stand that featured a Tyvon Branch 64-yard fumble return for a score.
• All 59-points during Oakland’s annihilation of the Broncos.
• The three-game winning streak before the bye week.
• Ford’s opening kickoff of the 2^nd half and overtime victory against the Chiefs.
• Any of McFadden’s dazzling runs, especially his 36-yard run vs. the Jaguars with 1:53 left in the game that was capped with a jolting stiff arm.
• Closing the season at Arrowhead with a victory.

Worst Moments:

• Sebastian Janikowski missing a 32-yard field goal in Arizona as time expired during the Raiders 24-23 loss versus the Cardinals.
• Failing to win back-to-back games at San Francisco, and losing to the winless 49ers, 17-9.
• Allowing 205-rushing yards to the Titans in the season opener.
• Losing two ten point leads at Jacksonville.
• Back-to-back losses, at Pittsburgh where they got dominated physically, and against Miami, which was a lackluster effort.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACK: B-

Jason Campbell’s first half statistics were respectable; 12-of-17 for 87-yards. But the offensive output for the team was horrendous. Zach Miller dropped a potential 1^st down on a 3^rd and 4, Campbell’s arm was hit as he released the football by Robert Mathis on a 3^rd and 9 and was pressured on another 3^rd and 9 when Jared Veldheer was beaten by Dwight Freeney. One of his best passes was a 10-yard strike to Louis Murphy on 3^rd and 6 in the 2^nd quarter and a 9-yard conversion to Chaz Schilens on a 3^rd and 5 on the same drive. Oakland was able to take a 13-10 lead four plays later on a field goal. He orchestrated a controlled right before halftime, spiking the ball with one-second remaining to give the Raiders another shot at a score. One of the few questionable decisions he had was on 3^rd and 9 in the fourth quarter, when he attempted to hits his tight end on a pass thrown behind him, instead of running for more yardage.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACK: C

The coaching and offensive line directly affected their lack of production. The speed of the Colts front-seven prevented big plays on screens and sweeps. Michael Bush had a 15-yard gain during the scoring drive in which the Raiders tied it at 10 and Oakland took the lead 13-10 on the strength of Darren McFadden’s 26-yard scamper to start that possession. McFadden only had six carries for 33-yards at halftime, not enough touches for the MVP of the team. Marcel Reece was ineffective, and his holding infraction negated a Bush 16-yard gain. McFadden ended with 45-yards rushing and 31-yards receiving.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: D

Chaz Schilens tallied his first two catches of the season for 16-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey has some miscommunication with Campbell on a hitch on 2^nd and 9 in the 1^st quarter, but hauled in a nine yard pass to start their first drive in the 2^nd quarter. He almost broke away from a defender after getting his legs cut out from underneath him on a 11-yard catch. Jacoby Ford had two-catches, his best a 17-yarder early in the 4^th quarter during a drive that the Raiders cut into the Indianapolis lead to 24-19. Murphy had 36-yards on two receptions. Zach Miller’s score with 1:51 left in the game brought Oakland within 31-26. The tight end ended with nine catches for 66-yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

Oakland had 60-yards rushing at the half and 80 at the end of the contest. Langston Walker was inactive and replaced by Mario Henderson at right tackle. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis combined for 2.5 sacks and made Campbell’s day unsteady in the pocket. Robert Gallery saved his passer in the 1^st quarter, fending of Freeney after Veldheer was blown away at the line of scrimmage. Veldheer was flagged for a hold and false start on the same drive in the 4^th quarter.

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

No Richard Seymour meant a shuffling along the trenches for the Silver & Black. Lamarr Houston played all over the interior of the defense, but was overpowered at times and was thoughtless with his unnecessary roughness penalty that aided a Colts scoring drive right before halftime that gave them a 17-13 lead. His actions will likely land him a fine, as tempers flared on the next play when Ryan Diem retaliated and caused a scuffle. Kamerion Wimbley saw action at defensive end, but was ineffective and neutralized during runs. Oakland could not near Peyton Manning and rarely put him in frantic situations. John Henderson had his moments with nine solo tackles and one pass defended. The Colts out gained the Raiders 191-80 on the ground in Dominic Rhodes’ [98-yards rushing] return to Oakland and Joseph Addai’s [45-yards] first action since week-six. “There’s no magic to it,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “We’re running the same plays, running the same defense. We were just playing what we do, and doing it a little better.”

LINEBACKERS: D

This group had their problems with crossing routes and was trailing a few times in coverage. Even though Manning only had 179-yards passing, the linebackers did very little to make their presence felt. Roland McClain was running with Jacob Tamme during Michael Huff’s interception.

SECONDARY: B

Stanford Routt had a tough drive late in the 3^rd quarter, flagged for pass interference and beaten by Blair White for a score, which increased the Colts lead to 24-16. Chris Johnson was Manning’a bull’s-eye a lot of the afternoon, but the cornerback demonstrated great hand-eye coordination intercepting a slant that was tipped by Rolando McClain and bobbled before the pick. He almost had another interception earlier in the contest, but Pierre Garcon broke up the pass as Johnson put his hands in on it. Johnson did get flagged for pass interference on 3^rd and 17 before the half, when Manning and Tamme torched Tyvon Branch in coverage for a 18-yard score. Nnamdi Asomugha won the majority of his match-ups versus Reggie Wayne. “There’s not a quarterback that I’ve played against that controls the game the way that he does, and handles every situation and is basically the coordinator on the fly,” Asomugha said of Manning.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

This group kept the Raiders alive for most of the contest. Jacoby Ford’s 99-yard kickoff return for a score to open the game was electric. After Shane Lechler’s first attempt, which had little power behind it, the ailing punter bombed five kicks, one for 63-yards which was covered instantly by Hiram Eugene and Rock Cartwright. Stevie Brown recorded another stuff during punt coverage and Cartwright forced a holding penalty after bolting through the line of scrimmage and almost getting to the Pat McAfee. Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 59-yard field goal attempt (2^nd longest in team history) and booted three other attempts from 38, 51 and 45-yards.

COACHING: D

Tom Cable coached loose when he sent Janikowski out for a 59-yard field goal attempt down 10-7 early in the game. But the team showed little life after that on offense and was kept in it because of an opportunistic special team. There are no excuses for getting out-rushed by a team that ranks 32^nd on offense running the football and 28^th stopping the run. McFadden did not get enough touches, the offense did not get its first 1^st down till the 2^nd quarter and did not reach the red-zone till the 4^th quarter. Too many three and outs, not enough sustained drives and eventually, the Colts will get to you. Manning toyed with the Raiders at the end of the contest, getting Branch to declare the defense’s intentions and then calling an audible that led to a Garcon score to give them a 31-19 lead before calling a bootleg that netted 27-yards to end the contest. Oakland fought hard till late, but they were listless for most of the game. You have to wonder if being eliminated from any post-season positioning due to Kansas City’s 34-14 romp over the Titans effected their disposition. “The guys were trying not to pay attention to it,” Jason Campbell said. “We were just really trying to focus on our game. That’s the situation you’re in when you have to count on other teams. It’s a tough situation to be in.”

GAME NOTES

• In back-to-back weeks, the Colts stuffed Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden, and teams with top ranked ground attacks. [67 yards vs. Jacksonville & 80 yards vs. Oakland]
• Colts are one win away from clinching the AFC South title for their ninth straight playoff berth.
• Oakland had 10 penalties for 116-yards. The Raiders were also 4-15 on 3^rd downs.
• Ford joins Ike Thomas of the 1971 Cowboys as the only players in NFL history to take the opening kickoff back for a TD twice in the same season. Ford did it November 28 versus the Dolphins and today versus the Colts. He is the only Raider to return opening kickoffs for a score in team history.
• “That’s a heck of a running team. They do a good job; big strong offensive linemen, backs that can certainly run. Our guys did a nice job overall. They had six three and out, one four an out, weathered the storm, showed some poise,” Jim Caldwell after the game about the Raiders offense and the job his defense did.
• “All we did was win today,” Manning said about the Colts playoff hopes. “We have to find a way to win again next week.”
• Manning tied former Raiders OL Gene Upshaw for the most consecutive starts to begin a career with 207.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACKS

Jason Campbell: A

The Oakland Raiders got another outstanding performance out of their starting passer today. On 3^rd and 3 during Oakland’s first possession of the 2^nd quarter, Campbell was poised rolling away from pressure towards the sideline and finding Darren McFadden for 16-yards. Later on that drive, Campbell his Zach Miller for 7-yards and eventually, Oakland took a 10-7 lead. At that point, the Raiders needed a sustained drive to give their defense a breather. The following offensive possession, Campbell led a 9-play scoring drive with passes to Miller for 12-yards, a toss to Marcel Reece for 11 after evading pressure and a exquisite play fake on 3^rd and 2, followed by another pass to his fullback for 13-yards. He ended the drive with a dart to Louis Murphy in the back of the end zone to give his club a 17-7 advantage. At halftime, Campbell had a perfect rating (158.3%), 204-yards on 11-of-14 completions with 2 scores. He missed some reps in the 4^th quarter after being sacked and driven into the turf. But he came back to lead the Raiders to a game tying score with 1:53 remaining in the contest. The Raiders knotted it at 31 after Campbell hit Reece with two-completions for 20 yards and Murphy for gains of 12 and 10-yards. He ended 21-of-30 for 324-yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kyle Boller: Incomplete

The back up had a tough task, entering the game late with the Raiders down seven. On his first play, Boller completed a pass to Miller for 20-yards and then on 2^nd and 9, he smartly scrambled for 6-yards. On 3^rd and 3, Boller was too high on his slant to Murphy and on 4^th and 3, while drifting backward, Don Carey picked him off and returned it for seven-yards.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACK: A

Darren McFadden looked like an MVP candidate versus the Jaguars. He gave Oakland a 7-0 lead in the 1^st quarter on a 3^rd and 8 dump off he took to paydirt from 67-yards out (career long reception). After the Jaguars sliced into the Raiders lead [17-14] to start the second half, McFadden cut, weaved and speeded into the end-zone, tallying 51-yards on a run that extended the Silver & Black’s lead to 24-14. McFadden struck for his third-score of the game with 1:53 left in the contest, scampering 36-yards, bouncing off defenders and stiff-arming his way into the end zone to tie the game at 31. He finished with 123-yards rushing and 86-receiving. Marcel Reece was a vital safety valve most of the day, compiling 48-yards on four catches.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: D

Zach Miller had his best outing in weeks. He ended with fur catches for 68-yards. Miller’s lone miscue was a holding infraction that negated a McFadden 14-yard run. Murphy recorded six-catches for 59-yards and a score. His back-to-back receptions for 12-yards on 2^nd and 15 and 10-yards on 3^rd and 3 in the 4^th quarter helped the Raiders move the chains. But it was too little too late for a team in need of more consistent pop at wide receiver. Murphy did run a nice route and showed solid awareness with his feet on his touchdown grab and provided a solid block on one of McFadden’s big plays. Chaz Schilens played again, but was a ghost with Campbell targeting him once on the opening drive on a pass that was almost intercepted by Rashean Mathis when the often-injured receiver was late coming out of his break. Darrius Heyward-Bey hauled in a 16-yard pass in the 2^nd quarter and a 26-yard toss right before halftime. On a deep ball in the second half, Heyward-Bey let a long toss sail right through his arms. Jacoby Ford’s best play was a deep cross in which he hauled in for 27-yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: C+

Far too often, this group let defenders tee off on their passers. The Jaguars tallied three sacks, the most important one coming with 18-seconds remaining Jeremy Mincey as Oakland attended to tie the game. Khalif Barnes was flagged for a false start, Campbell was drilled on a play in which the Jaguars picked up a fumble and ran it into the end zone, but was nullified due to a personal foul flag on Terrance Knighton. Cooper Carlisle and Samson Satele has stellar blocks on McFadden’s 51-yard scamper and the team did amass 153-yards on the ground (6.1 a carry). But it failed to stay consistent enough to give Campbell a comfortable pocket on a day he was very effective. Langston Walker appeared slow at the point of attack consistently at right tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE: C-

This group got consistent pressure on David Garrard. Richard Seymour (1) and Matt Shaughnessy (0.5) tallied sacks. At the half, Jacksonville was held to 52-yards rushing and Maurice Jones-Drew had little room to roam when the Raiders were playing from in front. But things changed in the second half, as Jones-Drew (23 carries for 101 yards 1 TD) and Rashad Jennings (5 car. 109 yards 1 TD) exploded for big gains and pounded away at the Silver & Black’s front-seven. Jennings’ 74-yard run for a score cut into the Raiders lead, 24-21. Jones-Drew 30-yard run with less than two minutes left in the game clinched the victory. Lamarr Houston was the Raiders best lineman today with a couple of run-stuffs on short down and distances.

LINEBACKERS: C

With Rolando McClain inactive, Ricky Brown started at middle linebacker. He had a fine play covering Jennings out of the backfield down the field on a 3^rd and 22 and stalling Garrard on a reverse option to end another drive. Kamerion Wimbley had 0.5 sack, but struggled at times in space. Quentin Groves was sidelined a few times, and his reps were given to rookie Travis Goethel.

SECONDARY: C-

Michael Huff started the game with a stellar 8-yard tackle for a loss on an end around by Mike Thomas. He also busted a wide receiver screen on a 2^nd and 10 in the 1^st quarter. But the starting free-safety was torched by Jason Hill for 48-yards and a score to open the 3^rd quarter and did very little in run support when the Jaguars began to roll. Huff was also beat on Sims-Walker’s score to give the Jaguars a 28-24 lead. Marcedes Lewis beat Tyvon Branch on a gain of 20-yards and on the 1-yard score that tied the game at 7. Branch drilled Thomas on a play in which Mike Mitchell recovered for a key turnover that Oakland parlayed into a 17-7 lead. Stevie Brown was beaten in coverage on what could’ve been a long touchdown to Zach Miller, but Garrard failed to connect with his tight end. Nnamdi Asomugha continues to look limited at times due to his injured foot. Chris Johnson returned to the line-up and had a nice pass defended in a 3^rd and 6 while covering Mike Sims-Walker.

SPECIAL TEAMS: F

Shane Lechler had one his worst games in recent years. Yes the wind was treacherous, but he looked awful in his five-punts, never drilling one solidly for an average of 42.0 yards per. Johnnie Lee Higgins provided little on punt returns (3 ret. 9 yds.) and Jacoby Ford’s fumble on a kickoff after Jacksonville cut the Raiders lead to 24-21, was a momentum swinging event. The Jaguars took their first lead at the end of the 3^rd quarter five-plays later. The kickoff unit failed again after Oakland tied the game at 31. Deji Karim’s 65-yard returned was the defining moment in a game full of big plays. On three Jaguar scoring drives, they either started at midfield or deep in Raiders’ territory. Stevie Brown had a solid tackle on one punt covered and Mike Mitchell almost got his hands on a punt block.

COACHING: C

Oakland played a gutsy game. They fought back to stay in the contest when it appeared that Jacksonville was ready to put them away. But on a day where Jones-Drew was controlled early and the Raiders had a ten-point lead at halftime, with their playoff lives on the line, the Silver & Black had to find a way to go home with a victory. Jacksonville took many jabs from the Raiders, but they never were able to knock them out. Once the Jaguars got back into the game, were balanced on offense and could rely on their running back duo, they felt comfortable and at ease. Special teams faltered and the defense was a sieve in key spots. This a totally different defense when they force teams to be one-dimensional and playing with a lead. Tom Cable had his group prepared to take the field on Sunday, but not equipped to come away with a road victory.

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QUARTERBACK: A

Dare I say, Jason Campbell was Rich Gannon-esque in his play this afternoon versus the San Diego Chargers! The Oakland Raiders passer was efficient, poised and gave the team a chance for positive plays on every snap this afternoon. Campbell on 3^rd and 7 during Oakland’s first scoring drive pump faked, was chased from behind and ran for 6-yards to set-up a 4^th and 1. On the next play, his ball handling was masterful, executing a beautiful fake handoff and then bootlegging untouched from 9-yards out to give Oakland a 7-0 lead. At the start of the next drive, he connected with his fullback after getting away from Shaun Phillips, for 11-yards. Ten plays later, Campbell increased the Raider lead to 14-0 with a touchdown lob to Jacoby Ford from 4-yards out. His legs were important; breaking containment on a 2^nd and 9 for 12-yards on another scoring drive and rushing for 9-yards on 3^rd and 7 up the gut of the Charger defense before Oakland went up 21-3. Campbell’s pocket presence was stellar and his leadership was on display when he chewed out the rookie receiver when aligned wrong and forced to use a time out. His finest play came in the 2^nd half when he adlibbed, dishing the football to Michael Bush after being pressured and almost sacked – a gain of 24-yards on 2^nd and 12. On 3^rd and 1 in the 4^th quarter, Campbell fooled the everyone with nifty ball handling, on a play action pass that ended in  Louis Murphy’s hands for 37-yards. He ended 10-of-16 for 117-yards, one score and 0 interceptions [105.5 rating]. He also ran for 37-yards.

RUNNING BACKS/FULL BACK: A

Darren McFadden was productive after a two-week hiatus. He was explosive, powerful and the game-breaker Oakland sorely missed during losses to the Steelers and Dolphins.  His fumble at the end of the first half could have proved costly, especially because the clock was ticking and Oakland could’ve ran into the halftime with all the momentum. But San Diego did not capitalize on the turnover when Nate Kaeding missed a 50-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds of the 2^nd quarter. McFadden’s best work came in the 2^nd half; a 19-yard reception on 3^rd and 5 on the opening drive of the 3^rd quarter, a 20-yard run on the ensuing play, a 5-yard gain on 3^rd and 5 and the 7-yard run for a score to give the Silver & Black a 28-13 lead. On the pitch, he beat San Diego defenders to the edge and plowed through Eric Weddle at the goal line. McFadden ended with 97-yards on 19-carries and 3 receptions for 30-yards. Michael Bush was used perfectly today, as Oakland mixed both ball carriers to perfection. The bruising rusher tallied 95-yards on 23 carries and a score. Twice, Bush sold Campbell fakes by running into the line of scrimmage and fooling Charger defenders that though he had the ball in his hands. He picked up tough yards all afternoon and his 7-yard scamper, which featured two broken tackles, gave Oakland a 21-3 lead in the 2^nd quarter. Marcel Reece had several run busting blocks. He also had one of the game’s finer plays, hurdling over Brandon Siler on a screen that amassed 23-yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: C

The Raiders did not need this grouping today. But Jacoby Ford did continue his solid play with a 4-yard touchdown grab. The play was aided by a Darrius Heyward-Bey screen on Donald Strickland to free up Ford on the fade pattern. Louis Murphy couldn’t get his feet inbounds on a 2^nd and 8 deep ball in the end zone versus Quentin Jammer. Murphy showed great effort on another deep ball that he almost tipped to himself for a completion, before hauling in a vital 37-yard grab to put away the Chargers. Chaz Schilens made his first appearance of the season but was a non-factor in the fame with one-target. Campbell missed the open Schilens on what would have been a 1^st down gain. Zach Miller continues to struggle since his injuries, tallying one catch for 5-yards. Heyward-Bey had a reverse for a second straight contest – today he compiled 13-yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: A

The team rushed for 251-yards. That’s the most given up by San Diego all season. Jared Veldheer was dominant run blocking on the left side. He played at center when Samson Satele was hurt, but returned back to left tackle to end the contest. Oakland overpowered San Diego all afternoon and pushed around the defensive front when they needed vital yards. The Chargers led the league in sacks coming into the game and they only recorded one; a scramble by Campbell in which he slid at the line of scrimmage to prevent a major loss. The quarterback was kept clean, the running game was dominant – it was one of the better performances in years from this unit. Khalif Barnes was flagged twice, Satele had a hold on a drive Oakland had to punt and Gallery had a false start, but those infractions barely marred what was a cohesive performance. Langston Walker’s personal foul pushed Sebastian Janiwkoski out of range for a field goal attempt.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A

The Chargers managed only 11-yards rushing at halftime. They only gained another 10 the rest of the game, as Oakland took the lead and the Bolts abandoned their ground game. Regardless, the Raiders were stout early and were the more physical bunch when San Diego attempted to get Mike Tolbert going. Lamarr Houston had a pivotal play stuffing Tolbert on a 4^th and short in the 2^nd quarter and then sacking Philip Rivers on a 2^nd and 6 for a 6-yard loss. Tommy Kelly was active, manhandling Tyronne Green for sack no. 6.5 of the season. Desmond Bryant’s roughing the passer flag aided a drive that ended with a Antonio Gates 4-yard score to cut the Raiders lead, 21-13. On that scoring play, Tyvon Branch, Stevie Brown and Rolando McClain had a mix-up that, which freed up the tight end.

LINEBACKERS: B

Rolando McClain’s performance was probably the best of his rookie season. He ended with 7-solo tackles, but more importantly, he was on his assignments versus Tolbert out of the backfield, limiting him to one reception for no gain and shadowing other threats around the line of scrimmage. His physical presence was felt when he cleanly knocked Darren Sproles out of the game with a vicious hit after a 7-yard reception. Kamerion Wimbley was consistently chasing down Rivers, finally getting to the passer for a sack in the 4^th quarter.

SECONDARY: B

Stanford Routt was targeted at one point, so Rivers took advantage of the Raiders cornerback for a few plays in the 2^nd half while working on Seyi Ajirotutu and Malcom Floyd. But otherwise, the defensive backfield fared well against a passer that lit them up for over 400-yards in their first meeting. Rivers ended 23-of-39 for 280 yards, but because of the constant pressure applied, the Raiders’ secondary could get their hands on some tosses. Michael Huff was dominant in the 1^st quarter, recording a sack and an interception. Rookie Stevie Brown landed a big hit on Gates and batted away a potential score on 3^rd and 12 at the end of the 3^rd quarter versus Floyd. Mike Mitchell did an admirable job against Gates, but was stronger as a run defender around the line of scrimmage.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Oakland again took advantage of a miscue on special teams when Sproles muffed a Shane Lechler punt in the 1^st quarter (recovered by Hiram Eugene). Lechler did not have much length on his punts, but he did place three inside the 20-yard line. Johnnie Lee Higgins was reliable on punt returns, recording 16-yards on one and Rock Cartwright fielded a short kickoff and tallied 28-yards on the return. Travis Goethel had a solid tackle on Sproles early in the game and Mitchell continues to be an energizer on that unit. Ford had a 28-yard return negated by a Ricky Brown holding penalty.

COACHING: A

The win was the most impressive for the Raiders this season for many reasons. San Diego had an 18-0 record in December since 2006, along with a current four game wining streak and a 7-year winning stretch versus Oakland at Qualcomm. Hue Jackson was masterful in his play calling at times; whether calling a bootleg run that fooled many for a score and that his players sold perfectly, a play action toss that again fooled the cameramen and Chargers for a 37-yard gain or perfectly called screens that consistently hurt a blitzing team that could not get to Campbell all afternoon. Oakland executed perfectly at times on offense and had sustained drives that led to an impressive 38:39 versus 21:21 time of possession advantage. John Marshall applied pressure consistently via blitzes from his linebackers and/or members of the secondary. They were well designed and had Rivers running all afternoon. Even with 13-penalties for 105-yards (Chargers only infracted 3-for-19 yards), Oakland had control of the game and clamped down when needed. Tom Cable has this bunch believing and a performance like this, after losing back-to-back games, on the road, in December, goes a long way in selling the owner why he’s the right man for the job. The defense could attack a one-dimensional Chargers attack once they went up 21-3. Norv Turner then put the game on Rivers’ shoulder and the rest is history. Campbell was poised all day and owned the offense that Jackson put together for this contest.

GAME NOTES:

• The Raiders are 4-0 in AFC West for the first time since 1990.
• Oakland swept the Chargers for the first time since 2001. The Raiders last win in San Diego was in 2002, when a Rich Gannon led Silver & Black won 27-7.
• Cornerback Walter McFadden, running back Michael Bennett, cornerback Chris Johnson, linebacker Bruce Davis, guards Daniel Loper and Bruce Campbell and wide receiver Nick Miller were inactive.
• Oakland rushed 52-times for 4.8 yards per carry.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

It’s the tale of two teams when the Oakland Raiders (5-6) face the San Diego Chargers (6-5). The Bolts are riding high, averaging 33.3 points per game and looking to grab the division during their four game winning streak. Oakland on the other hand has lost two in a row since entering the bye week with a three-game winning streak. “It seems like everything is going wrong right now,” safety Tyvon Branch said last weekend’s loss to Miami. “We haven’t been clicking.”

“We’ve got a group of resilient guys, that really play together and really believe in one another,” San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. “We’re right here in the hunt.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Oakland’s needs to get back to basics on offense; establishing the run with Darren McFadden and finding their tight end Zach Miller in the passing game.

McFadden has 18 carries for 16-yards during the team’s current two-game slide. “I’m doing pretty good, just working to get the offense back on track and keep pushing forward,” McFadden said Thursday.

Part of Oakland’s inability to run the football as they did prior to the bye week is that their falling behind in games and defenses are dictating the pace of the contest. “That’s one of the things we’ve been working on, trying to stay away from, is falling behind,” McFadden commented. “That’s what’s been happening to us – you fall behind, then you know you have to throw the ball.”

Miller has been absent from the attack, tallying 5 receptions for 23-yards the last 5-games.

What to Expect:

The Chargers rank 3^rd in the NFL at stuffing the run. So it won’t get any easier for the Raiders to re-establish McFadden’s dominant presence. They will have to and stick to it often and early if Jason Campbell plans to succeed getting the ball down the field. Expect Hue Jackson to force feed McFadden on runs and screens to soften up the Chargers defense. “We’ve got to get back re-establishing who he is and what he brings to the table and why,” said Cable about McFadden.

On Defense:

The rush defense is a major concern. In Pittsburgh, the Steelers averaged 4.9 yards per carry for a tally of 162-yards. On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins ran the ball 49-times and amassed 186-yards rushing, this after allowing an average of 75.3 yards per contest during their three-game winning streak.

On Wednesday, Tom Cable spoke about the defensive line rotation and whether any of the players can play tackle and end, stating: “You know, the one guy that can do that is Desmond Bryant. He can play inside and then move outside to spell you. But I would say, maybe in nickel, you might see Lamarr Houston go inside. We’ve done that a little bit. But really, to answer your question, no, I don’t see those guys moving in there very much.”

“There’s an issue there in terms of getting the right rotation now because of really only having the two [ends]. We’ll see what we can get done with Jarvis Moss this week in terms of preparation, if we can get him as part of that rotation.”

What to Expect:

Oakland allowed 506-total yards – 415 in the air – in their first meeting, and that was with a healthy Nnamdi Asomugha. They got to Philip Rivers at the end of that contest by blitzing and throwing off his timing with his targets. John Marshall has to rev it up again and bring heat to avoid another day where the Chargers march up –and-down the field. If Oakland’s can’t get to Rivers and slow down their rushers, it will be a blowout.

On Special Teams:

Jacoby Ford was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. The rookie averaged 245 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns. Ford, the Raiders’ fourth round pick in 2010 out of Clemson, tallied 439 yards with a 29.3-yard average on 15 kickoff returns and two touchdowns. Cable said, “That’s a tremendous deal for our team. Obviously he has made a couple of big plays but he’s growing and he’s showing up more and more with each game. Hopefully we can do it again in December.”

What to Expect:

Oakland benefited from blocked punts after consecutive Charger possessions that directly led to points in their first meeting. San Diego is aware of those protection issues, so Oakland cannot expect those type of game altering plays this time around.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

Rivers could be the league’s most valuable player, and the Raiders know it. “Who’s playing better than Phil?,’’ Tommy Kelly said .“I mean Phil is doing his thing, to me he’s the MVP because everybody around him that got hurt, and he’s still carrying his team. To me, that’s a leader right there. He done put the team on his shoulders and came up big.’’

San Diego’s franchise passer has thrown for 1,018 yards and 10 of his 23 touchdowns the last four games. The 431 yards he tallied at Oakland in October where the third-most in his career.

Mike Tolbert has carried for 214-yards and two scores the last two games and rookie Ryan Matthews could be back in the mix, as he’s practiced with the club this week.

What to Expect:

Norv Turner wants more balance. So don’t expect Rivers to chuck the ball around 42-times as he did in their first meeting. Tolbert is rolling and he praised his blockers, specifically Kris Dielman, Nick Hardwick and Louis Vasquez, stating, “[the offensive line] want to go downhill and want to block and want to pound on the people in front of them.” If San Diego is balanced, they’ll toy with the Raider defense.

On Defense:

“We still have a long way to go,” Chargers safety Eric Weddle. “But we are playing good.”

San Diego ranks first in the league in yards allowed per game (273.6), second in passing yards allowed (186.4) and 3^rd in rushing yards allowed (81.1).

Shaun Phillips has compiled 10.0 sacks, Kevin Burnett leads the team in tackles (60), has 5-sacks and 2 interceptions in 2010.

“We have 11 guys out there all working together, and I don’t think we’re reliant any more on one guy than another,” linebacker Stephen Cooper said after practice Wednesday. “We have feature players on this defense, but they don’t worry about individual accolades or seeing their name in a headline. We’re all about team defense, statistics and, most importantly, wins.”

Opponents have converted just 28 percent of their third downs during their winning streak, and only 4-of-24 in the last two games.

What to Expect:

San Diego is focused on one thing only; making the Raiders one-dimensional. And that will start with stuffing McFadden and putting the onus on Jason Campbell. If Oakland is sitting on 3^rd and longs, the Chargers will continue their dominance.

GAME NOTES

• Since 2006, the Chargers are 18-0 in December. Oakland last won at San Diego seven years ago.
• The Raiders lead the series, 55-44-2, in the regular season.
• Both teams feel like they can win the division. The Raiders remaining opponents’ record is 28-27. Chiefs’ opponents are 24-31 and remaining Chargers foes are 21-34.
• J.T. O’Sullivan was observed during the Raiders practice on Thursday. It appears that he’ll be the third string passer this weekend behind Campbell and Kyle Boller. Oakland had not officially released any news about his signing.

PREDICTION

Chargers 31 – Raiders 16

BROADCAST INFORMATION (cited from the official Raiders web site)

TELEVISION: The game will be televised on CBS with Jim Nantz providing play-by-play and former NFL player Dan Fouts handling color analysis.  The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13.The game also airs on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. RADIO: Greg Papa and Tom Flores will call the game live on Raiders Radio Network originating on KITS LIVE 105.3 FM and KFRC 1550 AM, with pre and post-game analysis on KFRC. Papa and Raiders two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Flores will man the booth for the 13th straight year. The radio pregame and postgame shows will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm as well as local veteran radio personalities Bruce Magowan and Jason Ross.

GAME INFO

Sunday, December 5, 2010 4:05 p.m. ET | Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Home Team: San Diego Chargers (6-5) Home: 4-1  Road: 2-4

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (5-6) Home: 4-2 Road: 1-4

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist