Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos preview:
Broncos host Raiders in a huge AFC West matchup
This matchup doesn’t look like the must-see of the week, but the fact is, both teams are very much alive in the AFC West race. The Raiders and Broncos are both at 2-4 and tied for second in the division,
1.5 games behind the Kansas City Chiefs. These divisional games are important, because they will likely decide the tiebreaker in this division, which are divisional records.
The Broncos have been unbelievable in some areas, and in others they are just as bad. They are third in passing offence (311 yards per game), but dead last running the football (67 yards per game). That
balances them out to 20.7 points per game (15th).
Kyle Orton is having a breakout season, along with wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, but the running game has been nonexistent and the Broncos’ defence has been up and down. Orton has already thrown for 1,942
yards this season with nine touchdowns. Lloyd has 34 receptions for 663 yards and three touchdowns. Even Jabar Gaffney is having a great season, leading the team with 37 catches for 408 yards and a touchdown.
Unfortunately, the lack of balance has doomed the Broncos, and that’s the reason why they’re a 2-4 team. Their running backs have been banged up, with Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter not having
been fully healthy all year and new acquisition Laurence Maroney being ineffective.
The Raiders do have perhaps the best cornerback in the league in Nnamdi Asomugha and he will undoubtedly be assigned to cover Lloyd all game. That will be the most important matchup between these two units.
The Raiders’ strength has been pass-defence, ranked eighth in the league with 196 yards passing allowed per game. Oakland is 30th against the run, with 150 yards allowed per game, but as we know, the Broncos can’t run the ball. The Raiders have
also allowed 25.2 points per game, 28th in the league.
Offensively, the Raiders are full of question marks at quarterback. Both Bruce Gradkowski and Jason Campbell have been limited in practice all week, and it’s still a toss-up over who will start. The Raiders
have shown more of an offensive threat with Gradkowski at quarterback, but the running game has been their real strength all season.
The Raiders also may be without Darren McFadden who also missed last week’s game against San Francisco. The Raiders are 10th in the NFL in rushing, with 130 yards per game. That has been largely
due to the emergence of McFadden this season. Michael Bush will likely get the start, and while he has fared well, he doesn’t provide the same explosiveness as McFadden.
The Broncos have yet to prove they can be a dominant defence. They’re 26th with 23.3 points allowed per game and 25th against the run (128 yards allowed per game). The Raiders will
look to exploit that, because with them being so banged up at quarterback, their running game is their best chance to win.
Expect a close game between these divisional rivals, but with this game being in Denver, it will be a tough outing for an Oakland team full of injuries. The Broncos are looking to rebound following a close
loss to the New York Jets and they’ll look to take advantage of the Raiders’ injury situation. Expect a pretty close game with the Broncos’ firepower eventually prevailing. Kickoff is a 4:15 pm from Denver.
Prediction:
Broncos win 35-24
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