Detroit Lions vs Oakland Raiders – NFL Week 15: Preview
The Detroit Lions face the Oakland Raiders at Oakland this Sunday. The match features a must-win scenario for both the sides who are desperately fighting to keep alive their chances of playoffs.
Both the sides are driven by the need to avoid a third straight defeat but the picture looks more gloom for the Detroits who cannot afford to lose this game. After Sunday’s game they play the San Diego Chargers and then the Green
Bay Packers. With the last match surely not going their way they would need to pick up wins in their first two games.
"We've got a three-game schedule. A significant portion of that schedule is the Oakland Raiders. That's the only thing that we can worry about right now." Head Coach for Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.
The two contenders are guilty of committing the most fouls this season in the league with a figure that stands at 27.
Good news for the Lions is that they have their key player Ndamukong Suh back. The defensive tackle was suspended for two games following an incident that happened in the game against the Green Bay Packers which his team lost 27-15.
Suh has had a good season with 31 tackles and 3 sacks this year. After his return, he refused to speak of the incident with the Packers saying the team was more important than him. In Suh’s two-game absence, the Lions have conceded
59 points but managed to outscore the Minnesota Vikings.
Like Suh, Oakland’s Richard Seymour has had disciplining too. He faced a fine of $30,000 after he punched Dolphins’ Richie Incognito. However unlike the stubborn Suh, he apologized later over the incident. Seymour had not fared
well in his last five games managing just a tackle and one sack. Both these players will have a chance this Sunday to improve their deteriorating public image.
The Raiders’ strength comes in from their running game. Their quarterback Carson Palmer would be in the spotlight and will need to deliver. Palmer has had five interceptions in the past five games, a figure he really needs to avoid
this time. He has had 1732 yards of rushing with nine touchdowns this season.
"We need to play much better than we did the last two weeks. Our backs are against the wall. Our team understands where we are." Palmer said.
The bad news for Oakland is that their key running back player Darren McFadden is still ailing from a leg injury. The bright spot however is that Denarius Moore who sustained a foot injury and missed three games may return to assist
Palmer.
Matthew Stafford of the Detroits who scored two touchdowns against the Vikings looked hopeful of a win.
"One win down, and we've got three left to get," said Stafford.
Detroit’s Calvin Johnson with 1121 yards can sure make that happen. He has taken nine touchdown passes in the first five games this season.
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