Oakland Raiders 2015 Schedule: Predicting The Team’s Wins and Losses
By Kevin Saito
Dec 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Vikings free safety Andrew Sendejo (34) tackles Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Detroit won 16-14. Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Week 11: @Detroit Lions (2014 Record: 11-5)
The Raiders visit the Motor City for a matchup with another 2014 playoff team. This Lions team will look a lot different than last season’s version, having lost Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and Reggie Bush, among others, to free agency.
Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata (92) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
But this is a Lions team that still has a very potent offense. They have a lethal one-two punch in the passing game in Megatron, aka Calvin Johnson, and Golden Tate. They also have a quarterback in Matthew Stafford who has a cannon for an arm and isn’t afraid to try to burn you deep. With receivers like that, can you blame him?
But the offense isn’t just the Johnson and Tate show. They also have a trio of tight ends in Eric Ebron, Joseph Fauria, and Brandon Pettigrew who can hurt a defense.
Despite losing Suh and Fairley, the defensive front led by newcomer Haloti Ngata is still very stout and will make life difficult on running backs.
The game will likely become a shootout, and Stafford’s experience with that type of game will win out over the relatively inexperienced Carr.
Prediction: LOSS
Lions 34; Raiders 28
Record: 7-3
Next: Week Twelve: Tennessee Titans