Oakland Raiders: A Closer Look At Some Concerning Numbers
By Kevin Saito
Given the questions surrounding the Oakland Raiders and their defensive performance thus far this season, let’s examine a few numbers that should be of concern as they square off with Tennessee.
The Oakland Raiders are in Music City to take on the Tennessee Titans – and hopefully start to get their defensive season turned around. Oakland’s offense has performed like a well oiled machine through the first two weeks of the 2016 campaign.
Derek Carr has led a unit that is ranked number one in the entire league, putting up 470 yards per game. Oakland’s ground game is second in the NFL, averaging 161 yards per contest. And the Raiders’ passing game is checking in with a little more than 300 yards per game.
The offense, averaging almost 32 points per game, is one of the most high powered, lethal groups Oakland has fielded in more than a decade.
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Unfortunately for the Raiders though, the defense the Raiders are fielding is one of the worst seen in the NFL in almost half a century. Yeah, let that sink in for just a moment.
Having given up 1,035 yards and 69 points in two games, it’s pretty safe to say that the Raiders defense hasn’t played up to expectations. Not after having signed big dollar free agents like Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith, and Reggie Nelson.
But the thing the Raider Nation should bear in mind is that the year is still extremely young. Two games does not a season make. There is still plenty of time to get this thing turned around and get that defense playing at the level we all thought them capable of playing at.
And that turnaround can begin in Tennessee this week. That being said, let’s take a closer look at a few numbers that are concerning and must be addressed.