Oakland Raiders: 5 keys to victory vs. New York Jets
By John Buhler
Hold on to the football to milk the clock
Should Oakland execute its game plan, the offense should be able to create quite the deficit New York will not be able to overcome. If Oakland leads 21-3 early in the first half, it’s probably over for the Jets at the Coliseum.
With a growing lead, the Raiders will want to protect their lead by being able to pound the rock to milk the clock. Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington will be asked to move the chains in the running game once Oakland sees an easy victory in sight.
This is where ball security becomes most crucial. New York will not give up despite being down big. The Jets have their best players in the trenches in Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson. One of them will try to force a fumble or two when the Raiders are trying to put this game in cruise control.
Fumbling the football is not acceptable, especially if turning the football over gives a meager offense like the Jets great field position to put up points. Oakland leaned on Lynch to milk the clock to some degree in Week 1 against Tennessee. Will it be him or any Raiders running back that will be asked to do the same on Sunday in Week 2?