Storylines
1. Can Derek Carr continue his no-INT streak?
Derek Carr is playing some of the best football of any quarterback in the NFL over the past few weeks, and is really hitting his stride running Jon Gruden’s offense. The team is in good hands with him as the signal-caller for the long-run, and he could run his no-interception streak to nine games if he can avoid the turnover on Sunday.
2. Will the Raiders win two in a row for the first time all season?
It has been a long season for the fans in Oakland, as the Raiders have won only three games the entire way. However, they have an opportunity to win back-to-back games for the first time this season on Sunday, and based on the two rosters, is it definitely a very good possibility.
3. Which defense will actually step up in Week 15?
Both of these teams have struggled on the defensive side of the ball this season, and whoever’s defense steps up in Week 15 will likely come out with the victory. Oakland has gotten great play from their young stars on defense in recent weeks, including Gareon Conley, Karl Joseph, and Maurice Hurst, but Cincinnati counters with veteran stars like Geno Atkins and Vontaze Burfict.
4. How will heading East affect the Raiders this Sunday?
It is never easy for a West coast team to go East, and on Sunday, that is exactly what the Raiders will have to do when they head to Ohio to take on the Bengals. The Raiders have had their issues going to the other coast, losing on the road at Miami and Baltimore, but this Bengals team is not as good as those were when the Raiders played them.