Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after running back Darren McFadden (20) ran for a touchdown against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Any NFL team can beat any NFL team on any given Sunday.
Even a franchise that’s in shambles can beat the mightiest of franchises.
So the Oakland Raiders should remember that as the take the dreaded east coast trip to play the New England Patriots. This is the recent state of the two franchises so most football fans believe this Sunday is in the bag for the Patriots. As a matter of fact, it’s probably football blasphemy to say the Raiders can upset the Patriots in Foxborough at this time.
But this it can be any given Sunday and the Patriots don’t look like the mighty Patriots Raiders fans have come to know and hate. The Patriots are 1-1 so far with a loss to the Miami Dolphins and a win against the Adrian Petersonless Minnesota Vikings. And even in their 30-7 win, the Patriots showed they have chinks in their armor that play into the Raiders’ strengths.
We all know that Raiders head coach Dennis Allen isn’t going to outcoach Bill Belichick but he doesn’t have to do all that. All Allen has to do is realize that he can utilize his Raiders’ strengths to exploit the Patriots’ biggest weaknesses. He has to use his playmakers too and if he does, it’s possible for the Raiders to make this Sunday given Sunday and upset the Patriots.
Turn the page to see how.