Oakland Raiders: A few keys to victory over the Cleveland Browns

Win The Turnover Battle

This is starting to sound like a broken record, but losing the turnover battle often means, losing a game. We can point back to the 2016 season, when the Raiders were tied for second, just behind the Chiefs, in turnover differential. That team went 12-4, and secured a playoff spot.

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The 2017 squad was a dismal negative 14 in the turnover differential department, and we all know how that turned out – a 6-10 campaign, in which they were basically eliminated from playoff contention by the end of week seven, which was right after their first (of two) four-game losing streaks last year.

It’s not a coincidence.

And so far this season, the Raiders are losing the turnover battle in a big way – hence, their 0-3 record. Turnovers are a huge part of wins and losses. And given that the Raiders have just one turnover – a Rashaan Melvin interception – while having given the ball up five times on their own (all Derek Carr interceptions), their winless mark starts to make a little bit of sense.

For the year, the Raiders are minus-four in the turnover differential column. That’s not exactly a recipe for success.

Now, you can make the argument that not all of the interceptions are Carr’s fault. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But, he’s throw a few that have been downright ugly, that are absolutely his fault. And he needs to take better care of the football, and stop putting his team in bad positions, instead, putting them in positions to win.