Most people thought after the hard-fought loss to the Chiefs in Week 11, the rest of the Raiders’ schedule was a road map for a playoff run. They started down that road by driving off a cliff in Atlanta. Now, no one is looking at their remaining five games as a given. Even against the 0-11 Jets.
Let’s not forget the last time the Raiders were in New Jersey to face the Jets they lost 34-3. That was around this time last season. If they are to avoid another catastrophe like last year and last week, it could come down to these five matchups.
Interior OL vs Quinnen Williams
Williams is a handful plus a truckload. He is a nose tackle who can destroy the pocket, as evidenced by his team-leading five sacks and ten QB hits. He will also crash the run lanes, with 16 run stops this season. No question keeping him from wreaking havoc on the Raiders’ offensive backfield is the team’s top priority. And it will take a team effort from the trio of Denzelle Good, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson.
Nevin Lawson vs Jamison Crowder
Lawson figures to start again in place of Lamarcus Joyner as he started the “ramp up” period this week. Lawson will be tasked with stopping the Jets’ top receiver. Crowder leads the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (456), and receiving touchdowns (3) despite appearing in just seven games this season.
Darren Waller vs Pierre Desir
The Falcons were able to take Waller out of the Raiders’ plans early last week. They did it by treating him as an outside receiver and putting cornerbacks AJ Terrell and Darqueze Dennard on him.
Desir is the Jets’ top cornerback and leads the team with three interceptions this season. Waller is the Raiders’ top receiver, regardless of position, and with Nelson Agholor’s status uncertain for the game, that is even more true.
Derek Carr vs Cold Weather
Yes, this is still a thing. Even with the Raiders’ win in Cleveland earlier this season — a game that was won almost entirely on the ground — Derek Carr is 3-11 in his career in games under 50 degrees. The forecast for Sunday’s game in New Jersey offers a high of 41 degrees.
Last year in New Jersey it was 43 degrees at game time and he completed just 15 passes for 127 with no touchdowns and an interception. He’s had great trouble in his career holding onto the football in ideal circumstances — see last week in Atlanta in which he fumbled three times and threw a pick-six. Cold weather only complicates things.
Jeff Heath vs Sam Darnold
Heath has been the Raiders’ best safety this season. He leads the team with three interceptions despite starting just three games. In the past two games, he’s gotten the nod ahead of Erik Harris. Johnathan Abram’s status is uncertain for the game as he is nursing a knee injury, which means Heath will be even more crucial.
Darnold has been absolutely terrible this season. He hasn’t thrown for over 300 yards even once this season and has only surpassed 200 yards twice in seven starts. He’s thrown eight interceptions to just three touchdowns and hasn’t thrown a touchdown since week three. Heath will be key to ensuring Darnold doesn’t have a breakout game much like he did last season when he threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns, finishing with his best passer rating of the season (127.8) which was the second-highest of his career.
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