The 3-5 Raiders head into this week's game against the Ravens down several key players. Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson are both out with high ankle sprains suffered in last week's loss to the Bucs. Richard Seymour is also out and Dez Bryant will have to fill in at tackle. One player is returning, however, and that is CB Ron Bartell, who has been out since week one. The Raiders are looking to return to the success they found earlier in the season in stopping the run, after they were mauled over by Doug Martin last week to the tune of 251 yards. The Ravens are coming off a win against the Cleveland Browns and find themselves at 6-2 on the year. This is not the same Ravens defense from year's past. They are allowing 386.3 yards/game, 26th in the league. They are also without Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb, who are both lost for the season. Let's take a look at the matchups and declare a winner.
Raiders Offense vs. Ravens Defense
The Raiders will have to rely on the services of Taiwan Jones and Marcel Reece in the running game, who both only have one carry on the season. Look for the Raiders to rely heavily on their passing game like they did late in last week's loss to the Bucs. They feel like they can match-up their passing game to anybody's secondary and we'll see if the Ravens will be ready. I also expect a lot of screens to act as running plays, where Reece excels in. The Ravens on defense are allowing 139.5 yards rushing/game and 246.8 yards passing/game so look for the Raiders to try and find success and exploit their weaknesses. This game will be played in Baltimore, though, so expect the Raiders to struggle early in the game.
Advantage: Ravens
Raiders Defense vs. Ravens Offense
The Raiders will have the services of Ron Bartell and be without the services of Richard Seymour. Seymour has been slowed by injury and hasn't really had the impact this year as he has in recent years so don't expect there to be much of a dropoff to Bryant. Bartell will be a welcome addition as he played well before getting injured and were playing a waiver wire pickup in his place. The Ravens have been up and down all season on offense and the key to having success against them is to control Ray Rice. Expect the Raiders game plan to shift the focus in his direction.
Advantage: Ravens
Special Teams
The Ravens have a dangerous returner in Jacoby Jones, who has already returned a kickoff 108 yards for a TD this year. Sam Koch and Justin Tucker are both good kickers, Tucker having missed one field goal all year and Koch averaging over 46 yards/punt.
Advantage: Raiders
Prediction: Ravens 27, Raiders 20
Record to date: 4-4
Raiders Offense vs. Ravens Defense
The Raiders will have to rely on the services of Taiwan Jones and Marcel Reece in the running game, who both only have one carry on the season. Look for the Raiders to rely heavily on their passing game like they did late in last week's loss to the Bucs. They feel like they can match-up their passing game to anybody's secondary and we'll see if the Ravens will be ready. I also expect a lot of screens to act as running plays, where Reece excels in. The Ravens on defense are allowing 139.5 yards rushing/game and 246.8 yards passing/game so look for the Raiders to try and find success and exploit their weaknesses. This game will be played in Baltimore, though, so expect the Raiders to struggle early in the game.
Advantage: Ravens
Raiders Defense vs. Ravens Offense
The Raiders will have the services of Ron Bartell and be without the services of Richard Seymour. Seymour has been slowed by injury and hasn't really had the impact this year as he has in recent years so don't expect there to be much of a dropoff to Bryant. Bartell will be a welcome addition as he played well before getting injured and were playing a waiver wire pickup in his place. The Ravens have been up and down all season on offense and the key to having success against them is to control Ray Rice. Expect the Raiders game plan to shift the focus in his direction.
Advantage: Ravens
Special Teams
The Ravens have a dangerous returner in Jacoby Jones, who has already returned a kickoff 108 yards for a TD this year. Sam Koch and Justin Tucker are both good kickers, Tucker having missed one field goal all year and Koch averaging over 46 yards/punt.
Advantage: Raiders
Prediction: Ravens 27, Raiders 20
Record to date: 4-4
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