{"id":4161,"date":"2016-10-18T12:19:22","date_gmt":"2016-10-18T16:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=4161"},"modified":"2016-10-18T12:19:22","modified_gmt":"2016-10-18T16:19:22","slug":"oakland-raiders-week-seven-keys-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/10\/18\/oakland-raiders-week-seven-keys-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland Raiders Week Seven Keys to Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, the Oakland Raiders<\/strong> lost an ugly game to the Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong>, and it looked like their run had finally run out. For weeks, Derek Carr<\/a><\/strong> and the offense had been racing against the clock, trying to compensate for their terrible defense. Against the Chiefs, Carr and the offense didn’t show up, and the Chiefs beat the Silver and Black in the Black Hole. This week, the Raiders\u00a0travel to Florida to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Oakland Raiders Week Seven Keys to Victory<\/h2>\n

Rebound From Week Six Loss<\/h3>\n

While the Raiders weren’t undefeated going into their showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, they also hadn’t yet had a bad loss. Their only loss had come against the Atlanta Falcons<\/strong> in Week two, and it was only by a single score. After a loss in Week six where the Raiders had to travel a good distance and\u00a0were outclassed and outcoached, it’s important for them to move on.<\/p>\n

The Raiders are better than the Jaguars, but if\u00a0Hue Jackson<\/strong>‘s team\u00a0let themselves fall into some bad patterns, Jacksonville will exploit them.\u00a0Jacksonville has\u00a0a couple of really talented receivers in Allen Robinson<\/a><\/strong> and Allen Hurns<\/a><\/strong> that\u00a0could abuse the likes of Sean Smith<\/a><\/strong> and David Amerson<\/a><\/strong> if the Raiders are\u00a0not careful. Being motivated by a loss is okay, but\u00a0being distracted is not.<\/p>\n

Open up the Offense<\/h3>\n

Last week against Kansas City, the offense was catatonic. Bill Musgrave<\/strong> didn’t open up the offense at all in the second half, and the Raiders were shut out. They struggled to get anything going on the ground, and by the time they turned to the pass, it was too late.<\/p>\n

It’s important to be multidimensional on offense,\u00a0and a team needs to know when to focus on run game, or pass the ball more, or be more balance.\u00a0The Chiefs dominated in time of possession, holding the ball for almost 37 minutes. The Raiders had far too many three-and-outs in the second half last week. If Carr and\u00a0company\u00a0do that against the Jaguars, Jacksonville will make the Raiders pay.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Defense Must Play Much Better<\/h3>\n

The Raiders defense played miserably\u00a0last week against the Chiefs. They made a mediocre quarterback in Alex Smith<\/a><\/strong> look like a star. Blake Bortles<\/a><\/strong> and the Jaguars have had a slow start in 2016, but they could easily find a rhythm against a defense that\u00a0is giving\u00a0up over 400 yards\u00a0per game (ranked last in the NFL)\u00a0this season.<\/p>\n

Ken Norton<\/a> Jr<\/strong>‘s job as Oakland’s defensive coordinator has to be on the line, and he needs to mix things up.\u00a0Norton Jr. has the personnel to have a truly great defense, but he has no idea how to use them. The fact that Khalil Mack<\/a><\/strong> has only two sacks through six games is just ridiculous.\u00a0The Raiders defensive coordinator\u00a0needs to let his defenders do what they do best. Let Sean Smith <\/a><\/strong>press at the line. Let Khalil Mack stand up and move around before the snap.<\/p>\n

Unless the Raiders want to face yet another fourth quarter where they’re hoping they have the ball last, they need to make some serious adjustments on the defensive side of the ball. Honestly,\u00a0doing anything other than what they have been doing should be an improvement.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n