The Jets will get a chance to extend their winning streak to three when they face the Oakland Raiders (6-4) at MetLife Stadium. The Raiders have a winning streak of their own, as they have won three in a row and are in the second place in the AFC West. So, after beating two pretty weak teams who had won three games combined, they Gang Green will have a real test on their hands.
The Jets lost last two games against Oakland by double digits and are 17-23-2 (11-8-1 at home) all time against the Raiders. Last time the teams met in 2017 when the Raiders demolished Todd Bowles’ team, 45-20. Raiders’ QB Derek Carr threw 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in that game. He had plenty of help on the ground, as the Raiders also amassed 180 rushing yards.
This time, however, they will be facing the best run defense in the NFL. The Jets are allowing only 79.1 rushing yards per game. Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott is the only running back who gained over 100 yards on the ground against Greg Williams’ defense this season.
As good as the Jets run defense has been, their run offense is on the other end of the spectrum – second worst in the NFL. Last week the Jets finally reached 400 yards of total offense in a game but their offense is still rated the worst in the league, averaging 248.2 yards per game. They are also dead last on third downs, converting just 25.4%. Sam Darnold had 4 touchdown passes last week and the second highest passer rating of his NFL career. If he’s to show that he has really improved, this is the game to do it.
Oakland’s defense is ranked 20th in the league. They are allowing 368.1 yards per game, so the Jets should be able to move the ball against this team. Both teams have registered 25 sacks this season, although 12 of the Gang Green’s sacks came in the last two games. Oakland’s DE Maxx Crosby had 4.0 sacks against the Bengals last week and won the AFC Defensive Players of the Week award.
Most bookmakers have Oakland as 2.5 or 3-point favorites going into this game. Oakland is also +4000 to win the AFC, while the Jets are ranked dead last (+500000) among the teams that haven’t been eliminated from the playoff contention. That’s half a million dollars back if one bets just a dollar on the Jets and they end up winning the AFC. Platinum play online casino is among the best places to explore various games and place bets with great bonuses.
If anyone still believes that the Jets somehow can make the playoffs, Sunday’s game will either raise their hopes even further or completely kill them. A win against Jon Gruden’s team would be a huge confidence boost for Adam Gase’s young team. If the Jets win and then follow up with wins against the winless Bengals and 2-8 Dolphins, they will be 6-7 going into the contest against the Ravens in Week 15.
Interesting Jets vs. Raiders facts:
- Joe Namath holds Jets single game passing record against the Raiders – 403 yards in 1972.
- Matt Snell ran for 168 yards against Oakland in 1964. Thomas Jones came very close to reaching that mark in 2008 when he gained 159 yards against the Raiders.
- Don Maynard still holds Jets single game receiving record against the Raiders – 228 yards in 1968. He caught 10 passes in that game.
- Richard Todd is the only Jets quarterback to throw 4 touchdown passes against the Raiders in a single game. He did it in 1977.
- In the same game, Todd threw a 87-yard pass to Wesley Walker, which is still the longest Jets passing play against the Raiders.
- The longest rushing play belongs to Chris Ivory who had a 71-yard run against Oakland in 2014.
- Mark Sanchez is the last Jets quarterback who passed for over 300 yards against the Raiders. He had 369 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT in 2011.
- Brandon Marshall is the last Jets wide receiver who had a 100-yard game against the Raiders. He caught 9 passes for 108 yards against Oakland in 2015.