Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) takes the snap from center Stefen Wisniewski (61) during the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In the last half decade there have been few games as truly satisfying as the beat down the Raiders laid upon the Chargers last week. For three quarters the Raiders dominated the Chargers in every way. Offensively the Raiders were nearly unstoppable using a balanced passing game to set up a strong run game. Shotgun, bunches, multiple tight ends, empty backfield, it did not matter, the Raiders were using every kind of formation to their advantage.
On defense, the pass rushing duo of Mack and Smith were getting consistent pressure. It was so successful, that they consistently caused Philip Rivers to throw balls off the mark and caused interceptions.
If it were not for the fact that Rivers got the ball out of his hands within two seconds and seemingly half of his passes did not travel past the line of scrimmage, the Raiders would have racked up many more than the single sack they accrued.
This week the Raiders are hosting a team that is the polar opposite of the one they just beat down. The Jets are a remarkable run defense with some very talented cornerbacks. They lack a pass rush, but make up for it with a complex blitz scheme.
Unlike the Chargers they lack the offensive threats and outstanding quarterback, but they cannot be overlooked. On Sunday what will the Raiders do to ensure the Jets come crashing in o Oakland not landing softly?
Next: Week 8 Primer: The Amorphous Defense