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5 Oakland Raiders to watch vs. Denver Broncos in Week 12

By John Buhler

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 19: Bruce Irvin No. 51 of the Oakland Raiders chases down Rex Burkhead No. 34 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Estadio Azteca on November 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 19: Bruce Irvin No. 51 of the Oakland Raiders chases down Rex Burkhead No. 34 of the New England Patriots during the first half at Estadio Azteca on November 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 22: Dexter McDonald No.21 of the Oakland Raiders looks on during the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 22, 2014 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 20-12. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 22: Dexter McDonald No.21 of the Oakland Raiders looks on during the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on August 22, 2014 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Raiders 20-12. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

4. player. 28. . Cornerback. Kansas Jayhawks. Dexter McDonald

Much has been made about how badly the Raiders secondary has played this season. A lot of this has to do with rampant injuries to David Amerson, Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu. One guy that seems to have gotten better with more playing time, all things considered, is cornerback Dexter McDonald.

He, T.J. Carrie and Sean Smith have been the trio of cornerbacks Ken Norton Jr. has leaned on these last few weeks. McDonald played sparingly in his first two years out of Kansas with the Raiders, but has proven to be a decent rotational piece in their secondary.

He will have an interesting matchup on Sunday when he will be lined up across the Broncos’ talented but inconsistent No. 1 wide receiver in Demaryius Thomas. In his time in Denver, Thomas has proven to be extremely quarterback dependent. He was a Pro Bowler with Peyton Manning slinging him the pigskin. With Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler, not so much.

It might sound crazy, but if any player on the Raiders is going to come away with an interception this year, it will be McDonald in this game. Thomas will drop passes like the Raiders receivers do. A tipped ball on an in-route thanks to an overthrow by Osweiler will result in the Raiders’ first pick of the season.

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