Three Biggest Games: Oakland Raiders
After what has felt like an eternity in cellar-dwelling purgatory for Oakland fans, 2014 finally started to look like a step in the right direction for the once-proud franchise. And while a 3-13 record supplemented by an 0-10 start isn’t what most franchises would consider the ‘right direction’ on paper, the team’s incredibly young core showed flashes of the skill that will help Oakland continue to slowly put the pieces together this year.
Week 5 vs. Denver Broncos
Let’s make this clear right off the bat: everyone hates everyone else in the AFC West, but no rivalry defines pure hatred quite like Raiders-Broncos. In this classic clash of young versus old, Oakland’s upstart quarterback Derek Carr faces off against the declining-but-still-dangerous Peyton Manning in the Raiders’ first divisional clash in 2015. Oakland is still a ways away from contending for the division title, but wins over your most familiar opponents are a key component in season-long success. Going 1-5 in division play, as the Raiders did last year, is no way to improve.
Week 9 at Pittsburgh Steelers
The defining rivalry of the 1970s has now been reduced to a once-every-few-years affair, but that hasn’t stopped the Raiders from playing their former rivals with vigour. Only two years ago, Terrelle Pryor shocked the world, running riot over an aged and outmatched Steeler defense en route to an emphatic win. For as long as they have been winning Super Bowls, the Steelers have played down to their competition, frustrating and teasing their fans for decades. The Raiders will need that trait to show up again in week 9 if they want any hope of keeping up with Pittsburgh’s high-octane offense.
Week 12 at Tennessee Titans
So this matchup might not have the prestige and challenge of some of Oakland’s other opponents this season, but this battle between a thrilling collection of NFL prospects should still draw in its fair share of viewers. Barring injury, all signs point to Marcus Mariota starting for the Titans by week 12. He faces Oakland’s explosive second-year pass rusher Khalil Mack, while Carr will continue to stretch Amari Cooper’s skills in his debut season as Oakland tries to find that game breaking offensive weapon they have missed for so long. Four of the Raiders’ final five games are divisional affairs, and the only game that isn’t a home meeting with the vaunted Packers. Suffice to say that a victory here is important for more reasons than just improving the win-loss record.
