Oakland Raiders: A Closer Look At Some Concerning Numbers

42.9

Oakland’s defense has had a problem getting off the field this season. So far this year, New Orleans and Atlanta have run 129 plays against the Raiders defense. And both the Saints and the Falcons had long, extended drives against the Raiders defense.

The biggest reason for that is Oakland’s inconsistency when it comes to stopping a team on third down. For the year so far, opposing offenses are converting their third downs against the Raiders at a 42.9 percent clip. Of their 21 third down attempts, New Orleans and Atlanta combined to convert nine of them.

Nine out of twenty-one may not seem like such a big deal to some people, but project that almost 43 percent success rate out over the course of a season. How successful will this defense be after sixteen games if they allow teams to convert third downs at a 43 percent clip?

Spoiler alert – not very successful.

Stopping third down conversions allows the defense to get off the field, catch their breath, and rest up. Getting off the field will obviously keep the defense fresher and more effective later in games. Stopping third down conversion attempts is critical for this Raiders defense. And giving it up at a 43 percent clip isn’t going to get it done.

This Raiders defense needs to figure out how to stop a team on third down – and figure it out quickly. They’re running into a Titans team that converts at a 50 percent clip (13 conversions in 26 attempts).

The Raiders can’t afford to let Tennessee convert their third down chances. They need to shut them down, get off the field, and keep that defense fresh.