Oakland Raiders Week Eleven Keys to Victory

History Repeats Itself

Do you remember what happened the last time the Raiders faced Brock Osweiler? He was the quarterback of the Denver Broncos, and let’s just say he didn’t have a good time. Know who did have a good time? Khalil Mack. Khalil Mack had five sacks and a forced fumble. It’s true that Osweiler had over 300 yards, but he also threw the ball 51 times. That Broncos offense was a lot better than the one he’s running in Houston, and it shows.

Osweiler has thrown at least one interception in seven of his nine games this year, and the Raiders have the third best turnover differential in the league. In order for the Raiders to win, history has to repeat itself. Mack needs to pressure Osweiler and force him to make mistakes.

Contain DeAndre Hopkins

Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins isn’t having a great year. He’s on pace to have the worst season he’s had as a pro since his rookie year, and it’s not pretty. He’s only on pace for 80 catches, 857 yards, and five touchdowns. For perspective, Amari Cooper has played the exact same amount of games, and he already has 843 yards. Even Oakland’s number two receiver Michael Crabtree is on pace for 87 yards, 1,060 yards, and 11 touchdown grabs.

Yes, DeAndre Hopkins is having a bad year. But do you know what can fix that? The 30th ranked passing defense. Sean Smith, David Amerson, Reggie Nelson, and company have given up about 283 yards a game through the air. If Hopkins is going to turn his season around, the Raiders are his best bet.

If the Raiders are going to win, they need to shut Hopkins down. Force Osweiler to look elsewhere or to the run game. The Raiders are one of the best defensive teams on third down in the league, so as long as they limit big plays, they’ll be fine.

Pound the Rock

The Raiders have the fourth best rushing offense in the NFL, and two weeks ago against Denver, it showed. The Texans have one of the best pass defenses in the league, but they can’t stop a nosebleed on the ground. They’re giving up 120 yards a game on the ground, and have allowed ten rushing scores all year.

The Raiders can beat Houston the same way they beat the Broncos: with generous helpings of Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, and Jalen Richard. Whether or not they employ the sixth offensive lineman like they did against Denver is irrelevant. They can turn to Derek Carr and the passing game when they need to, but the Raiders should try to score as many points as they can on the ground.