Detroit Lions at Oakland Raiders: 3 things we learned

It took a full team effort for the Oakland Raiders to pull out the victory over the Detroit Lions and there were some key takeaways from the game.

It was not easy, but the Oakland Raiders pulled out a massive win over the Detroit Lions 31-24 to get back to .500. This was decided on the last play of the game, and it was the defense that secured the win after nearly giving it up a few plays earlier.

A real gut-check win for the Raiders as both teams needed this to keep within striking distance of the playoff race in their respective conferences. Plus with the Chiefs winning and the Chargers blowing out the Packers, the Raiders couldn’t afford to lose for divisional purposes.

This game played out almost exactly how many expected. Oakland followed its formula for winning by getting a lead at halftime and winning the time of possession, which allowed them to keep the entire playbook available. Both offenses played well as the Raiders continued their balanced attack, and the Lions were explosive in the passing game. Turnovers proved to be crucial as the Raiders forced two on drives that looked to be heading towards points for the Lions.

As a fan, these times of wins cause unwanted amounts of anxiety, but the thrill of victory makes it all worth it.

Now it is time to look deep into this Raiders win and pick out what exactly we learned from this close contest. There are many takeaways from this game, but here are few in particular that stood out.