The Oakland Raiders Week 9 matchup against the Detroit Lions could significantly alter the outlook of the season for both teams. The following Raiders x-factors must perform well if the team is going to be successful on Sunday.
After a five-game stretch without a true home game, the Oakland Raiders Week 9 contest brings the team back to the Coliseum. The Detroit Lions come into town and both teams are in the playoff picture, however, the loser is virtually eliminated.
To stay in the postseason discussion, the Raiders x-factors must perform well on Sunday.
After dropping the last two contests, Oakland remains a game and a half back for the division lead and an AFC Wild Card spot. Similarly, Detroit lost three of its last four games, and are two and a half games out the playoffs. With each team on the outside looking in, Sunday is a must-win for both teams.
Beyond the playoff outlook, both teams are very similar to each other. The Lions have an impressive offense, but their defense is nothing to write home about, and the same statement applies to the Raiders. Expect an exciting game with a lot of points this weekend.
In order to stay in the postseason hunt, the following players need to step up for the Silver and Black.