Oakland Raiders have a real shot to upset Broncos

Dec 28, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tackle Ryan Clady (78) prepares to pass block on Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Khalil Mack (52) in the second quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Bottom Line

The matchup I don’t like is between Broncos receivers Demaryius and Emmanuel Sanders vs the Raiders corners. But I do like the way Raiders corner Dave Amerson is coming along since he’s been a Raiders. But the big thing here is for the Raiders to negate that advantage with Mack and Smith pressuring Manning.

But is far as their good-but-overrated Orange Crush defense goes, the Raiders aren’t scared of that. They blocked them just fine last year with a leaky right side of the offensive line that is much improved this year. So Carr will have time on enough occasions to find Cooper, Crabtree, Reece and company to hang in there.

And if they stay with it, the Raiders can have some success running the ball as the Broncos have only stopped teams that already couldn’t from running the ball. And as for the Broncos corners, they couldn’t cover Diggs so there’s no reason to believe they can stop Cooper without help. And in that case, one of the other Raiders weapons will be free in the Broncos secondary.

The Raiders are under a touchdown underdogs in this game, and they are just as close on the field if they can take advantage of homefield to keep things close with the Broncos. If this game is tight in the fourth quarter, anything is possible, but the Raiders need to execute at a perfect rate if they want to have a hope of a long awaited win over their division rivals.