Oakland Raiders Week 7 X-Factors against the Green Bay Packers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 25: Derek Carr No. 4 and Gabe Jackson No. 66 of the Oakland Raiders stand on the sidelines as the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their 19-10 win at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 25: Derek Carr No. 4 and Gabe Jackson No. 66 of the Oakland Raiders stand on the sidelines as the Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their 19-10 win at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Maurice Hurst #73 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking Chase Daniel #4 of the Chicago Bears (not pictured) on the last play of the game during the match between the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Maurice Hurst #73 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking Chase Daniel #4 of the Chicago Bears (not pictured) on the last play of the game during the match between the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images) /

Maurice Hurst

When it comes to the Packers offense there aren’t many weak links, so it’s imperative opponents take advantage of any mismatch. For Oakland, that means defensive tackle Maurice Hurst needs to have a big game.

Green Bay’s starting right guard, Billy Turner, leads all guards in pressures allowed with 22. For perspective, last season he surrendered 27 in 15 games and is in first (or last) place by three pressures. As bad as Turner has been, Hurst needs to pick up his play in his own right.

Last season’s fifth-round pick had a bit of a rocky start to his sophomore campaign, but has put together a couple strong performances recently. In the first three games of the season, Hurst generated two pressures, and against the Colts and Bears he got after the quarterback seven times.

Hopefully this trend continues and the pass rusher can take advantage of the mismatch because interior pressure will help limit Rodgers’ scrambling.