The Oakland Raiders host the New England Patriots Sunday in a Week 4 AFC matchup, and get this – the teams have the same record (2-1). In fact, the Raiders’ loss came via the unbeaten Buffalo Bills, who also handed New England its only loss so far last week. And the Raiders are coming off a win over the New York Jets.
Parity, or a new era?
The Raiders boast the league’s No. 1 rushing attack led by Darren McFadden, and quarterback Tom Brady has helped the Patriots to a top spot in league passing. New England is also dead last in total defense, so this one has all sorts of storylines.
Pats’ defense struggling immensely
Despite a stellar display on offense, New England has given up 468.7 yards per game on defense. Getting off the field has been an issue for the Patriots, as they’ve given up 55 first downs through the air and 23 passing plays of 20 or more yards, which both rank last in the league.
"Obviously just getting off the field on third down, reducing penalties and getting more pressure on the quarterback," Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo told the media Wednesday of the team's needs for improvement. "We have a lot of work to do and hopefully it happens this week."
McFadden a focus
"Obviously just getting off the field on third down, reducing penalties and getting more pressure on the quarterback," Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo told the media Wednesday of the team's needs for improvement. "We have a lot of work to do and hopefully it happens this week."
McFadden a focus
New England, however, will need to be focused on stopping McFadden out of the backfield, and not just on running plays, but on screens and dump-off passes, as well. Oakland stalls every now and then on the run, but its commitment to getting the ball in McFadden’s hands has paid dividends with his big-play ability.
“When you're calling those runs, it's because of something you see and something you feel you can execute and do,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson told the New England media Wednesday via conference call. “You just kind of stay after it -- sometimes you just have to give a lineman a chance to really see it another time. Sometimes you've got to give a [running] back another chance to see it. It's just something that I truly believe in and is something that's ingrained here.”
McFadden, who has 393 yards on the ground so far this season, torched the Jets last week for 171 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
Seymour to face old team
“When you're calling those runs, it's because of something you see and something you feel you can execute and do,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson told the New England media Wednesday via conference call. “You just kind of stay after it -- sometimes you just have to give a lineman a chance to really see it another time. Sometimes you've got to give a [running] back another chance to see it. It's just something that I truly believe in and is something that's ingrained here.”
McFadden, who has 393 yards on the ground so far this season, torched the Jets last week for 171 rushing yards on 19 attempts.
Seymour to face old team
New England has been solid up front on offense despite some shuffling of players early in the season. Sunday, New England will be up against former Patriot defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who was traded to the Raiders just before the 2009 season began.
Seymour won three Super Bowl titles with New England.
"They're (Patriots offensive linemen) good players. I have a lot of respect for them," Seymour told the New England media Wednesday via conference call. "I feel like we have a good defensive front and it'll be a good battle. I think that's what football is all about: a good offensive line going against a good defensive line."
Patriots up against unfamiliar foe
New England and Oakland haven’t faced each other since 2008 when the Patriots defeated the Raiders, 49-26. It’s been even longer for Brady, who missed the entire 2008 season (aside from some of the team's season opener) due to injury.
“We haven't played them or I haven't played them in a while, so it's been kind of a crash course the last few days in getting to know them [and] getting to know their personnel and schemes,” Brady told the media Wednesday. “… It's always a certain kind of player out there: big, fast, and tough. They play well at home. It's a good front. They're good in the secondary [and] they're physical. It's going to be a big challenge.
“We haven't played them or I haven't played them in a while, so it's been kind of a crash course the last few days in getting to know them [and] getting to know their personnel and schemes,” Brady told the media Wednesday. “… It's always a certain kind of player out there: big, fast, and tough. They play well at home. It's a good front. They're good in the secondary [and] they're physical. It's going to be a big challenge.
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