After a week-long hiatus due to the Holidays, I'm back ready to predict this week's match-up. The Dolphins come in after losing to the Bears on a Thursday night 16-0. The Raiders, of course, are reeling after a 35-3 blowout loss on the road to the Steelers. There are QB questions galore in this match-up of 5-5 teams. The Dolphins had to start third-string QB Thigpen against the Bears and will wait until game time to make a decision on Henne. It was reported in the Miami Herald that he took the majority of the snaps this week in practice with the first-team offense over Thigpen. That is an indication that it will most likely be Henne over Thigpen. The Raiders, meanwhile, have flip-flopped all week on who will be starting at QB. Cable had said early in the week that Campbell is still their QB moving forward, but on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that a source close to the team said that they will be starting Gradkowski against the Dolphins. This will probably be a situation that comes down to game time for both teams. Let's take a look at the match-ups:
Raiders offense vs. Dolphins defense
The Raiders strength lies in the running game. They are currently 2nd in the league, averaging 152 yards/game. Miami against the run is not too solid. They are giving up 112 yards/game but only a 3.9 average/rush. This tells me that teams like to run the ball against this defense but haven't had as much success. The key for the Raiders is to return to the physical play the showed in the three consecutive wins. The didn't take the fight to the Steelers and it showed up front on the offensive and defensive lines. The Dolphins defensive strength is against the pass where they allow only 196.8 yards/game. This game will probably come down to who can run the ball more effectively.
Advantage: Raiders
Raiders defense vs. Dolphins offense
The Raiders defense comes into this contest with the services of Asomugha at corner, which should give a huge boost to the effectiveness against the pass. They were lit up last week against the Steelers on mostly underneath routes where the corners were unable to press the receivers at the line. This will change with Asomugha back in the lineup. The Dolphins will be without their top receiver in Brandon Marshall and may be without their starting QB in Henne. They will most likely try to rely on their running game and running plays out of the Wildcat formation. They currently rank 21st in rushing at 97.9 yards/game. This should be a match up that favors the Raiders, as Miami will be without key players on offense and where they struggle is also where the Raiders struggle.
Advantage: Raiders
Special Teams
The Raiders come into the game with the highest scoring kicker in the NFL with the most field goals made and the punter with the highest punting average in the NFL. The Dolphins return game is mediocre at best. Their longest kickoff return is for 46 yards and their longest punt return is for 18 yards. They have a pretty good kicker in Carpenter, who is in the top 10 in scoring and field goals made.
Advantage: Raiders
Prediction: Raiders 27, Miami 14
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