Oakland Raiders: Keys To Victory Over New York Jets

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is sacked by San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers (24) during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Play the Short Game

If the Raiders try and fail to generate any sort of a rushing attack, they may want to consider the short game approach. It’s a method that the San Diego Chargers use to great effect – so great in fact, that they are the league’s top rated passing attack. And their short game is necessitated by the fact that they have no running attack to speak of.

Quick slants, screen passes, quick hitters to the sidelines – there are any number of ways the Raiders can attack the Jets on short routes. And with the talent they have on the roster – receivers like Amari Cooper – who can turn short catches into long gainers, they have to take advantage of it.

Last season, Derek Carr took a lot of heat for the dink and dunk approach to the offense. This season, he’s done a much better job of going vertical and getting the ball down the field. And while he will absolutely need to take some shots deep just to keep the defense honest, if the running game can’t get off the ground – and against that Jets defensive front, it very well may not – then that short, dink and dunk passing game becomes incredibly valuable.

Against a defense as stout as New York’s – number two in the league, giving up just over 283 yards per game – the Raiders will need to be creative and they’ll need to think outside the box a little bit to find some holes in an otherwise solid wall. They’ll have to find any advantage they can and absolutely seize upon it.

Next: Release The Beast