Oakland Raiders v. Arizona Cardinals live game day open thread

The Oakland Raiders are in the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals – this is your place to talk about the game and all things Raiders football.

After having their week’s practice schedule cut down to a couple of indoor walk-throughs because of the raging fires, the Oakland Raiders fled the smoky, unhealthy air quality in the Bay Area for the desert for a showdown with the Arizona Cardinals.

Though, perhaps a “showdown” may be too generous of a way to describe it. But then, what exactly would you call a matchup between a 1-8 team and a 2-7 team?

This is also a matchup of Draft Day trade partners last year, as the Raiders and Cardinals flip-flopped their first-round picks, with the Cardinals taking Josh Rosen at number ten overall, while the Raiders got their man at fifteen in Kolton Miller – a trade that’s provided some very mixed results for both squads thus far.

But, both players – Rosen and Miller – have flashed some tremendous upside and look capable of playing at a high level for their team. Miller could be the anchor and quarterback Derek Carr‘s blindside protectior on the left side of the line they need him to be. And Rosen has shown some flashes that he could be a solid quarterback for this team.

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Both players will obviously need time to develop.

Today though, they’ll get a chance to go head to head – or at least, their respective teams will get a chance to go head to head. Shockingly, the Cardinals are favored in this game by 4.5 points – which is quite the accomplishment and/or slap in the face given that the the Carindals offense is statistically worse than Oakland’s.

While the Raiders may be averaging a very meager 16.7 points per game (thirtieth in the league), the Cardinals are even worse, averaging just 13.8 points per game (thirty-first in the league). Oakland’s offense is ranked twenty-second overall in the league in yards per game while the Cardinals are dead last, averaging a pedestrian 236 yards per game.

Of course, the Raiders will also be without the services of wideouts Jordy Nelson and Martavis Bryant today, meaning that practice squad callups Marcel Ateman and Saeed Blacknall will get some significant snaps today.

Given that he’s apparently the fastest man in the NFL – hitting a top speed that eclipses both Alvin Kamara and Tyreek Hill – the Raiders might want to consider throwing punter Johnny Townsend out there to run some routes. At this point in this lost season, what could it hurt?

Also still questionable to play for the Raiders are Gareon Conley, Nick Nelson, and Kyle Wilber. In one spot of brighter news, the Raiders may have a full offensive line back and playing today for the first time in seemingly forever, as Kelechi Osemele may be returning from injury and Rodney Hudson – who’d been listed as questionable – both appear ready to roll.

If Nelson and Conley can’t go though, it’s going to be a tougher assignment for Oakland’s secondary as Arizona has a couple of lethal weapons in Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirksey. And oh yeah, they also have a guy named David Johnson to worry about coming out of the backfield – and the Raiders haven’t defended the run very well at all this season. To say the least.

Gee, having it all put that way, maybe the Cardinals being favored in this matchup actually makes sense, huh?

There have been a lot of storylines running around lately, but which are the biggest ones to you? What stories are the most compelling for you? Are the Raiders going to give max effort or are they just phoning it in and waiting for the clock to strike twelve on the season?

How do you think this game plays out and who do you think is going to win?

The floor is now yours. This is your place to talk about the game and all things Raiders football. So step on up and tell us what’s on your mind. Time to speak out and be heard, Raider Nation!