The Raiders look to get back on track defensively after getting manhandled by the Eagles last week to the tune of a record-tying 7 TD passes by Nick Foles. We all know that this is a good defense and last week was just an off-day. This game against the Giants is an opportunity to prove that. The Giants are coming off a bye-week after two consecutive wins. The importance of this game can be found in what happened at the same point of the season last year. The Raiders were 3-4 and looking to even their record at 4-4 and feeling pretty good about themselves. They were at home facing a Tampa Bay squad that torched them for 42 points and then went on the road to Baltimore and lost 55-20, leading to a six game losing streak and ending up with only one more win to end the season at 4-12. This Raiders team is different than the one that played so poorly last year at the end of the year. They are tougher mentally and have more drive to succeed. We'll see if that shows up at game time in New York. Let's take a look at the matchups and predict a winner.
Raiders Offense vs. Giants Defense
The Raiders had their best offensive game last week in 45 years in a loss and look to gain on that momentum. Pryor was a full practice participant all week after tweaking his knee in last week's loss. McFadden is questionable with a hamstring and look for Rashad Jennings to get the start at RB. The Giants defensively have not registered as many sacks on the year as they have in the past with only having 10 at the halfway point in the season but we know their is talent on the defensive front in Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka.
Advantage: Raiders
Raiders Defense vs. Giants Offense
The Raiders pride was dealt a blow last week against the Eagles when the number 9th ranked defense gave up over 500 yards. They will look to regain the form they had in the previous 7 games that had them as one of the more surprising units in the league. Eli Manning has found a way to hang onto the ball better in the last two games, both victories, after starting the season so poorly with 15 INT's already on the year. The Giants are banged up at RB with David Wilson on IR and Brandon Jacobs listed as Doubtful. That leaves Peyton Hillis for a team that is only averaging 3.2 yards/carry on the year. Expect Manning to throw often to VIctor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.
Advantage: Giants
Special Teams
The Raiders are still looking for consistency in the return game on both punts and kickoffs but their coverage teams have been one of the best in the league. Janikowski has missed 4 FG's on the year but most of those were early on and Marquette King leads the league in punting average. For the Giants, the have a good punter in Steve Weatherford and kicker in Josh Brown. Their return teams have been pretty much below average.
Advantage: Raiders
Prediction: Giants 27, Raiders 24
* Stat to note: The Raiders have only won 6 times east of the Mississippi River since 2002 and only twice in the Eastern Time Zone in that same period.
Record to Date: 4-3
Raiders Offense vs. Giants Defense
The Raiders had their best offensive game last week in 45 years in a loss and look to gain on that momentum. Pryor was a full practice participant all week after tweaking his knee in last week's loss. McFadden is questionable with a hamstring and look for Rashad Jennings to get the start at RB. The Giants defensively have not registered as many sacks on the year as they have in the past with only having 10 at the halfway point in the season but we know their is talent on the defensive front in Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka.
Advantage: Raiders
Raiders Defense vs. Giants Offense
The Raiders pride was dealt a blow last week against the Eagles when the number 9th ranked defense gave up over 500 yards. They will look to regain the form they had in the previous 7 games that had them as one of the more surprising units in the league. Eli Manning has found a way to hang onto the ball better in the last two games, both victories, after starting the season so poorly with 15 INT's already on the year. The Giants are banged up at RB with David Wilson on IR and Brandon Jacobs listed as Doubtful. That leaves Peyton Hillis for a team that is only averaging 3.2 yards/carry on the year. Expect Manning to throw often to VIctor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.
Advantage: Giants
Special Teams
The Raiders are still looking for consistency in the return game on both punts and kickoffs but their coverage teams have been one of the best in the league. Janikowski has missed 4 FG's on the year but most of those were early on and Marquette King leads the league in punting average. For the Giants, the have a good punter in Steve Weatherford and kicker in Josh Brown. Their return teams have been pretty much below average.
Advantage: Raiders
Prediction: Giants 27, Raiders 24
* Stat to note: The Raiders have only won 6 times east of the Mississippi River since 2002 and only twice in the Eastern Time Zone in that same period.
Record to Date: 4-3
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