Oakland Raiders Can Upset the Arizona Cardinals

Improved Coverage

Raiders fans wait until D.J. Hayden gets back but the coverage of the other Raiders corners has improved dramatically. And it was rookie corner T.J. Carrie’s improvement that showed the most in last Sunday’s game against the Chargers. In his preseason matchup against Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson, Carrie challenged him at the line of scrimmage, stayed with him and managed to knock a pass out of Nelson’s hands.

But Carrie ultimately struggled with Nelson’s size and playing the ball—giving up a touchdown and other big plays to Nelson and other tall receivers this preseason. That same test came again last Sunday with the height and speed of Malcolm Floyd and Kennan Allen. And after giving up a 20-yard catch to Floyd, he didn’t give up another one as the Chargers tried him a total of five times as he had two passes defensed.

And with his improved ability to play he ball and tall receivers, in come the Cardinals with Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The good thing about this matchup is Palmer instead of Aaron Rodgers or Philip Rivers will be throwing the ball. Tarrelle Brown seems to have improved a bit himself so the 80 percent days by opposing quarterbacks should be over.