Having practiced and played against each other in the pre-season, I don't anticipate the Patriots offense doing much better against the Raiders than they did in August. Looking back at that preseason game, I see a lot of similarities to the overall play we've been seeing all year. That being said, I still think the Patriots can be victorious if the offense just plays slightly better and the defense and special teams doesn't make any game changing mistakes.
A LOOK BACK AT THE OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES FROM AUGUST- Taking sacks and throwing interceptions on first downs when the offense looked like they found their rhythm, check. Gotta love being in short and long all day long. Coming up short on 3rd down passing attempts because the routes are being run a yard short of the first down markers, check. Yeah, we still haven't figured that out. Touchdowns being called back due to offensive penalties, check. Problems on the offensive side of the ball have yet to be figured out.
BE A SCROOGE- The Patriots gifted the Raiders with 3 turnovers in August. If they can avoid that and let the defense and special teams do their jobs, that should be enough to give us a different result.
BE A SCROOGE- The Patriots gifted the Raiders with 3 turnovers in August. If they can avoid that and let the defense and special teams do their jobs, that should be enough to give us a different result.
WHISTLES- The Raiders have amazingly had more penalties and penalty yards than the Patriots this season (LV- 86 /726 and NE- 80/670). The type of penalties both teams are typically guilty of are very similar.
- Offensive holding: LV- 15 NE- 14
- False start: LV- 13 NE- 14
- Offensive total- LV- 43 NE- 42
SPECIAL TEAMS AND DEFENSIVE SCORING- What's been the constant in all of the Patriots' wins this year? In early November I looked into all of the Patriots wins for this season and wrote this:DO THE PATRIOTS WIN GAMES WITHOUT A GAME CHANGING DEFENSIVE OR SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY? Since writing that, the Patriots have had two more wins. On 11/20 the Patriots beat the Jets with a game ending punt return for a touchdown. Last week the Patriots won on the back of a Raekwon McMillan 23 Yd fumble recovery for a touchdown. So, while winning the turnover battle has typically been enough for the Patriots to turn out victorious is years past, this season they need a scoring play. While I'd love to say that the Patriots can win without a defensive or special teams score, I still think it's unlikely.
TRICK PLAY ALERT- I have a gut feeling that there may be at least one trick play up Matt Patricia's sleeve. Hopefully, it is executed correctly or at least doesn't result in a turnover or false start. Yeah, a girl can dream.
TRICK PLAY ALERT- I have a gut feeling that there may be at least one trick play up Matt Patricia's sleeve. Hopefully, it is executed correctly or at least doesn't result in a turnover or false start. Yeah, a girl can dream.
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