Oakland Raiders Shouldn’t Feel Too Comfortable With Geno Smith Starting

The Oakland Raiders will see a familiar face against the New York Giants, and given his success against them, one that shouldn’t make them feel too comfortable.

The Oakland Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over division rival Denver last weekend, but they’re going to need to keep building on that momentum if they hope to claim a long-coveted AFC West title. The Raiders are going to have to take it week by week, take nothing for granted, and play like their hair is on fire for a full 60 minutes in each of the next five games.

And first up on the slate are the New York Giants.

Given the internal upheaval and turmoil the Giants are experiencing, as well as their 2-9 record and shoddy play this season, some might be tempted to count this as a win and call it a day. That notion might further be reinforced by the fact that Giants HC Ben McAdoo inexplicable and entirely classless decision to bench two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning in favor of – Geno Smith.

Yes, the same Geno Smith that couldn’t hold on to a starting, or even a back-up, job with the New York Jets – a teao desperately and pretty much perpetually needy for a quarterback.

However, it would be pure folly to overlook the Giants or take Smith too lightly. A folly the Raiders simply cannot afford if they hope to claim a postseason berth.

Some who might be tempted to breathe a little sigh of relief that the Raiders will be facing Smith versus Manning would likely point to his career stat line. They might point to the fact that Smith has a 12-22 career record as a starter.

More from Golden Gate Sports

• Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
• 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
• Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
• 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
• 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve

Or that he’s notched a completion percentage just shy of 58 percent (501/868), has thrown 28 touchdowns against 36 interceptions, and has a QB rating of just 72.3.

In terms of accomplishment, Geno Smith pales in comparison to Eli Manning.

That much is true. However, rather than looking at his career accomplishments – or lack thereof – it’s more important to look at how he’s fared in his career against the Silver and Black.

And in all practical terms, he’s beaten Oakland like a rented mule.

In three career games against the Raiders, Smith has compiled a stat line that should give Oakland fans a moment of pause, if not outright concern.

He has a career 2-1 record against the Raiders – with the one loss coming when he subbed in for Ryan Fitzpatrick. As a starter, Smith is a tidy 2-0 against Oakland.

He’s completed 70 percent of his passes (66/95) for 705 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also burned Oakland on the ground to the tune of 122 yards on 17 rushes, scoring another touchdown with his legs.

In his three games against the Raiders, Smith has compiled a QB rating of 91.8. Against the Raiders, Smith has put together numbers that far exceed his career stat line.

Next: AFC West Title Hopes, Playoff Berth, Now In Oakland's Hands

In 2013, as a rookie, Smith wasn’t spectacular, but he was an efficient 16/25 for 219 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 50 yards on just five carries and scored his lone rushing touchdown on the ground in New York’s 37-27 victory over the Raiders. Those 37 points coming from an offense that managed a meager 18 points per game for the year.

In 2014, Smith was even more efficient, going 23/28 for 221 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and also ran for 38 yards on 10 carries. The Jets won the game 19-14.

And in 2015, Smith took over for Ryan Fitzpatrick, going 27/42 for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 34 yards on just two carries. The Raiders won that game 34-20.

Some folks might argue that it’s a different team, different years, with different players, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. However, like the Giants, it’s not like those Jets teams Smith was running had an overabundance of offensive weapons or firepower.

And yet, despite having limited talent around him, he somehow managed to scrape together enough to post two wins as a starter.

Let’s also not forget that there is one constant to this Raiders team that’s allowed Smith to have the success he’s had against them – bad defense. And let’s not pretend that the bad defenses Smith faced in previous years have gotten all that much better.

Perhaps, with John Pagano calling the shots and doing some good things on defense now, as we saw against Denver, things will tighten up on that side of the ball. With Pagano running a more aggressive scheme, the Raiders notched five sacks and their first interception of the season against the Broncos.

That’s not to say everything went smoothly against Denver. After the Raiders had effectively shut down Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian came in and promptly lit up that defense, throwing for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 11/21 passing in just over a quarter of work after Oakland had already built a 21-0 lead.

But, for much of the night, the defense was pretty solid. And they’re going to need efforts like that (minus that quarter plus the Siemian was dissecting them) game in and game out until the end of the season.

Somehow, Oakland has a division title and a playoff berth well within their grasp. However, at the same time, their playoff lives are also hanging on by a thread.

One misstep and the entire season can come crashing down around them. Well, more than it already has. A misstep like taking the Giants and Geno Smith and the Giants offense too lightly.

Doing that could very well bring an early end to a season that started with so much promise and excitement.