Oakland Raiders: 5 players to watch vs. Miami Dolphins
By John Buhler
The Oakland Raiders definitely need to find a way to win on Sunday versus the Miami Dolphins. Here are the five Raiders to watch on Sunday Night Football.
Last Sunday was not the result the Oakland Raiders wanted in the slightest. They were routed on the road against the Buffalo Bills in the early afternoon to the tune of 34-14. This might have been the worst performance out of the Silver and Black all season.
Yet we will try our best to move along. Oakland finds itself at 3-5 on the year at the halfway point. AFC playoff dreams are quickly fading away, as the Raiders have dropped five of their last six games. It will be a dog fight to get back to the playoffs, but that can all start with a big win on Sunday night.
This week, the Raiders will travel to Miami Gardens to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football in Week 9. If the Raiders thought they had a bad week, the Dolphins got annihilated by the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday Night Football, 40-0.
The Raiders may have dropped, or turnover over, the ball four times on Sunday in Orchard Park, but maybe they can right the ship on Sunday night against a struggling Dolphins team. Here are the five Raiders you will definitely want to keep your eyes on this week versus Miami.
28. . Running Back. California Golden Bears. Marshawn Lynch. 5. player
Marshawn Lynch was unable to play in Week 8’s loss because of his own doing. Had he not ran on to the field to protect his cousin Marcus Peters of the Kansas City Chiefs after a late hit on Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, Lynch would have been able to play against his former team in Western New York.
Instead, the Raiders have to settle for something less dynamic in Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington on Sunday afternoon. Richard muffed to kickoffs and fumbled a punt. Washington had a fumble that resulted in a Matt Milano touchdown for the Bills to swing the game in Buffalo’s favor.
Lynch has been gone Beast Mode very much this season. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for him coming out of retirement. Yet he will have not played for the Raiders for 17 days. If he’s not well rested after that time off, he never will be.
Look for Lynch to run the ball with conviction in a warm weather city in Miami in primetime. The Dolphins have already traded their running back Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles. Maybe Lynch is the most imposing runner playing in this primetime game at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 9?