For trend-setting Raiders, three is a charm

By Hugo Guzman  |   Thursday, October 04, 2007  |  Comments( 42 )

Oakland Raiders
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Just four games into the 2007 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders have already matched their win total from last year. As the team heads into its bye, the players and coaches will have an extra week to prepare as they attempt a franchise feat that has not been accomplished since the Raiders' Super Bowl run in 2002.

And it seems fitting that, in order to secure that third straight victory, the Raiders will have to travel to San Diego and upend a Chargers squad that was supposed to have a stranglehold on the AFC West entering the campaign.

Ironically enough, it is Oakland that is currently tied for the division lead at 2-2, while the Chargers sit in its cellar at 1-3. Still, a road win against the Bolts would serve to further legitimize the Raiders, and give the fan base a real reason to at least start considering a run toward the playoffs.

There's just one problem, though: San Diego is still a true playoff contender that is desperate for a win to get itself back on track.

Apart from the fact that San Diego will be motivated, the Chargers have several more concrete factors in their favor.

Much like Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown did in Week 4, expect Bolts RB LaDainian Tomlinson to gash the Raiders both on the ground and through the air. Oakland is ranked 27th in the league in total defense and is allowing a hefty 130 rushing yards per game. In addition, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates seems to have a good game against everyone, so expect him to have his way with Oakland's secondary.

And defensively, the Chargers will pressure and harass whomever Oakland lines up at quarterback in Week 6.

So what can the Raiders do? Here's three things that will help them beat San Diego on Oct. 14.

1) San Diego's rush defense is not as porous as Miami's; but then again, whose is? Therefore, it would behoove the Raiders to run it early and often. Nothing will help keep the pressure off Oakland's signal-caller in a hostile road environment more than a healthy ground game, especially one that will be bolstered by the return of suspended RB Dominic Rhodes.

2) Oakland's secondary has not been as dominant as it was a year ago, but the linebacking corps has taken ball-hawking to a new level. More of the same is in order if the Raiders hope to derail a somewhat inconsistent Phillip Rivers, who has been prone to the occasional errant throw.

3) Early in the season, it appeared as if the Raiders were continuing last year's trend of losing winnable games. However, it seems a light switch went off in Week 3 against the Browns, and all of a sudden, the Raiders are finishing games instead of falling apart. Should Oakland find itself in a position to beat the Chargers in the late going, it must continue to avoid game-killing turnovers and find ways to put points on the board when the contest is in the balance.

An extra week of preparation is exactly what the Raiders need to help execute this plan, and if they can do so two Sundays from now, the franchise will find itself the proud owner of something that has eluded it for nearly three seasons -- a winning record.
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About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
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CommentsComments: 42  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Raider Glory		01:56 AM
10/04/2007
No doubt the Raiders can beat the Chargers!! We just have to get off to a quick start, perhaps a 10 point lead!! The defense will...
No.2
raiderstevej		02:27 AM
10/04/2007
Chokers are not Miami! So we definitely have a tough game on the road. I agree at the most part that we have to run well agaist...
No.3
Raiderusmaximus		02:29 AM
10/04/2007
The travel to SD will be a true test for the Raiders. However, they were able to hold LT last year game one and I beleive with...
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