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

By John Buhler

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree No. 15 of the Oakland Raiders is wrapped up and tackled by cornerback Chris Harris No. 25 of the Denver Broncos after a 4 yard reception at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Michael Crabtree No. 15 of the Oakland Raiders is wrapped up and tackled by cornerback Chris Harris No. 25 of the Denver Broncos after a 4 yard reception at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman No. 53 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman No. 53 of the Oakland Raiders reacts after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

NaVorro Bowman vs. Paxton Lynch

Well, here is a matchup nobody could have expected back in Week 1. Oakland will trot out its veteran inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman on Sunday so that he can hopefully play chess to Broncos starting quarterback Paxton Lynch’s not-so impressive checkers game.

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Bowman is a borderline hall of fame player. He was a four-time All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers in his prime. However, he has been thrust in to duty as essentially an on-field player/coach in a bad Raiders’ linebacking corps. His responsibilities are only to increase after Ken Norton Jr.’s firing on Tuesday.

Lynch will be making his first start of the season for the Broncos. He is a former first-round pick by the Broncos out of Memphis in 2016. Lynch has made two career starts as a rookie, but his inability to beat out either Trevor Siemian or Brock Osweiler as the Broncos starting quarterback tells you everything you need to know about how little he is progressing as a pro passer.

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

To be fair, Lynch is big and mobile. If he figures it out upstairs, he does have the natural abilities similar to Cam Newton. However, the cerebral part of the game has thus far escaped him. Look for Bowman to try to out scheme the new Broncos’ starting quarterback in pretty much a cross-off game for both teams on Sunday afternoon in Oakland.

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