Raiders vs. Patriots: Five keys to winning
Playing the New England Patriots is daunting enough without having to piecemeal a game day roster on a cross country flight.
That’s what the Raiders are faced with Sunday in Foxboro, Mass., as they attempt to start an NFL season 3-0 for the first time since 2002.
The Raiders opened that season 4-0 and lost four straight before righting themselves, winning the AFC championship and then losing in the Super Bowl to Jon Gruden’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In other words, ancient history.
In the here and now, Gruden is a game or two away from the Raiders being taken seriously as a playoff contender. Cam Newton is the Patriots’ quarterback instead of Tom Brady, which amazingly enough might be an upgrade. The coach is still Bill Belichick and the Patriots are 121-23 since Gillette Stadium opened in 2002, not including 19-4 in the playoffs. The Raiders are 0-2 there, losing in 2005 and 2014.
New England is 1-1, falling 3530 to Seattle but playing well enough that rampant speculation that this would be the year for someone else to win the AFC East after 11 straight titles was put on indefinite hold.
The Raiders are coming off a short week following an emotion-charged 3424 win over New Orleans Monday night in their first game at Allegiant Stadium, and the physical toll was considerable.
Running back Josh Jacobs (hip) and tight end Darren Waller (knee) barely practiced all week, the two primary weapons in the attack led by quarterback Derek Carr. Henry Ruggs III, the speedy rookie firstround draft pick, won’t play with a hamstring strain. Right tackle Trent Brown and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski will miss their third straight game.
Gruden isn’t sure who will be playing on the offensive line along with left tackle Kolton Miller, center Rodney Hudson and right guard Gabe Jackson.
Five keys for the Raiders as they seek to go 3-0:
1. Make Newton throw from the pocket
Newton had more downfield throws than any quarterback in the NFL against Seattle last week. And that’s what the Raiders want — Newton launching from the pocket. The longer the ball is in the air, the better the chance to make a play on the ball.
What the Raiders don’t want to see is Newton breaking outside, extending plays, turning nothing into something big. It wasn’t a concern with Brady, but it’s a down-by-down dilemma with Newton.
It also gives the Raiders’ pass rush a chance to get going. Newton historically has taken a lot of sacks. He won’t be getting rid of the ball as quickly as Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Brees, giving Maxx Crosby and a so-far mediocre pass rush a chance to get home. Crosby had 10 sacks as a rookie and none through two games.
2. Get explosive
There’s no quibbling with eight touchdowns and four field goals in two games, and the Raiders are wearing out the opposition in the process. Their average touchdown drive has been nine plays and 72 yards. Their average field goal drive has been nine plays and 41 yards.
It will be hard to maintain that kind of consistency, so they’ll need to mix in some explosive plays. If they’re touchdowns, all the better. With Ruggs out, that becomes more difficult. But Jalen Richard has the capability to go the distance, and getting Waller isolated against a smaller defensive back could also be an immediately payout.
Carr can make the throws. He dropped a 31yard dime to Foster Moreau that was a thing of beauty against New Orleans in addition to the methodical third-down conversions that keep drives alive.
3. Takeaways — plural
The Raiders got their first interception in the second quarter against the Saints, courtesy of linebacker Nicholas Morrow. It led to a field goal. Otherwise, nothing. The surest way to negate a home-field advantage is with turnover margin. Young corners Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette, slot corner Lamarcus Joyner and safeties Erik Harris and Johnathan Abram should have opportunities to make plays.
Linebacker Cory Littleton, who hasn’t missed a snap, was renowned as a pass defender and in adjusting from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense has yet to show the playmaking ability he had with the Rams with an admittedly small sample size.
4. Where’s Waller?
During his conference call with the New England media, Gruden was asked about the possibility of Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore shadowing Waller. Gruden joked that they’ve got to find him first.
Waller has lined up just about everywhere — he’s been in tight, flexed outside, in the slot, in the backfield. He’s been put in motion as well, and when you consider the left and right sides, Waller could be in any one of eight spots. This isn’t Dave Casper, always in the same place and blocking like a tackle before going “Ghost to the Post.”
5. Penalty poopers
Put this number in a time capsule. The Raiders have the second-fewest penalties in the NFL with six through two games. The Patriots have five.
The Raiders don’t have a single offensive holding penalty and no pre-snap penalties such as false starts or offsides. Some of that has to do with not having fans in the stands. But it’s also clear the Raiders have played with heightened discipline.