
The Raiders aren’t completely out of the AFC playoff picture, but expecting them to make the postseason is like betting on a very long shot. Head coach Jack Del Rio insists they’ll stay motivated, and players have been dropping hints that it’s the case during the practice week.
This group believes it hasn’t played its best football, without a true complete game on its resume. The Raiders still have plenty to play for, and they believe they can go up to Denver and compete with the Broncos.
Here are the top five storylines heading into Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field.
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1. Carr looking to rebound
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw three costly interceptions in a critical Week 13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The last time Carr threw three interceptions in the same game? His senior year of high school. So, yeah, that performance was an aberration. Carr is ever confident and will continue taking risks to push the ball downfield. One problem, Carr’s trying to get right against the NFL’s best defense, armed with a ferocious pass rush and excellent cover corners.
2. Raiders pass rush must finish
Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards Jr. lead a Raiders pass rush that is getting to the quarterback more often over the past few weeks. They have 14 sacks in the last four weeks, a run that could continue against Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler. He tends to hold the ball too long, often sacrificing a big hit to make a big throw. Mack has four sacks in the past two games, and has dominated offensive linemen in that span. The pass rush must help a secondary missing safety Nate Allen due to a knee injury.
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3. Can Raiders reverse 4th-quarter troubles
The Kansas City Chiefs won last week's game with 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Unlike Derek Carr's interception against K.C., that fourth-quarter issue isn't an outlier. The Raiders have been outscored 49-10 in the last four quarters, a stretch where they have lost three of four games and essentially fallen out of playoff contention.There is no room for mistakes against a quality Denver squad, certainly not as time winds down.
4. Hudson’s big return
Rodney Hudson ranks among the NFL’s best centers, and the Raiders have missed him three of the past four weeks due to a sprained ankle. They’re hoping Hudson can bring life to a running game that has fallen on hard times the last few weeks. The Raiders use Hudson as a pulling blocker and a gap creator on the interior, which could give Latavius Murray some more room to run.
5. Amari on the verge of 1,000
The Raiders haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2005, when Randy Moss cracked the barrier. He is just 80 yards from pay dirt at this stage, certainly capable of reaching four digits on Sunday against the Broncos. He only had 47 yards in the first meeting, but one big play could turn thing in Cooper’s favor. When Amari breaks free, the Raiders are far tougher to stop.