Five Key Matchups: Broncos-Raiders
Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware have celebrated plenty this year, but they'll face a surprisingly effective pair of tackles on Sunday. We break down that and the game's other key matchups.
Despite going winless in the first half of their season, the Raiders have reason for optimism in their 2014 first round pick. Oakland took Khalil Mack out of Buffalo fifth overall in May to play the "Von Miller role" in Dennis Allen's defense as a strongside linebacker in early downs and a defensive end in passing situations. Though Allen was fired after an 0-4 start, Mack has been very steady, even playing 136-of-137 snaps in the last two weeks. He hasn't been credited with a sack yet, but he's been very close, and Head Coach John Fox has been paying attention: "He's dynamic. He's an excellent rusher. It's been a little bit critical that he hasn't had a sack yet but he might lead the league in holding penalties as far as versus him. So he's problematic." It remains to be seen who will see Mack most often, as Paul Cornick has been dealing with a shoulder injury this week, but the Broncos need to have a plan against the talented rookie.
Unlike Mack, the Raiders' first round pick in 2013 has been largely a disappointment so far, largely because of injuries. Hayden suffered a freak injury in college but recovered well enough to be picked 12th overall by Oakland. As a rookie, he was up and down for eight games before going on injured reserve with a groin injury. Then, a stress fracture kept him on the PUP list this year until Week 8, when he played five snaps. But with the Raiders' injuries at cornerback, Hayden was pressed into service against the Seahawks in Week 9, playing 69 snaps and finding himself in the thick of the action. He was thrown at seven times, allowing two catches, taking two penalties and coming close to two interceptions. Hayden will be called on again this weekend, with Carlos Rogers likely out and T.J. Carrie hurting. Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders each have five 100-yard receiving games this season, which has only been matched by Antonio Brown and DeSean Jackson. The youngster will have to overcome his inexperience to handle the most explosive duo in the league.
If there's one area the Raiders have truly excelled this season, it's in pass protection, where they're tied with the Broncos for fewest sacks surrendered (9) in the league. LT Donald Penn and RT Khalif Barnes are having easily the best years of their respective careers after struggling badly in recent seasons. Penn was cut by the Buccaneers after allowing an astounding 28 sacks in his last three years in Tampa Bay, but has given up just one in eight games for the Raiders while committing no holding penalties. Likewise, Barnes surrendered 13 sacks and committed nine holding penalties and 13 false starts in his last 41 games entering this season. Though a quad injury kept him out in Weeks 6 and 7, Barnes has been responsible for just a half sack, no holds and one false start. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware will give this duo their toughest test yet, but Penn and Barnes are also helped by Derek Carr's commitment to getting the ball out quickly. Carr's four-year college teammate, Isaiah Burse, says, "He won't take a hit. That's one thing about him, he knows how to protect himself well." Miller and Ware will try to put that to the test.
These two have an interesting history together that dates back to the 1997 Heisman Trophy race, in which Woodson prevailed to become the first defensive winner in the award's history. Both in their 17th NFL seasons, neither player seems to be slowing down. Manning keeps producing at a similar level to 2013's record-breaking campaign, while Woodson has played 571-of-572 defensive snaps for the Raiders this year. Woodson's experience and instincts are the most valuable asset the Oakland secondary has, but that hasn't mattered in the team's two meetings since Woodson returned to the Raiders. In those games, Manning played just six quarters but racked up 640 yards and seven touchdowns with an 88 percent completion rate. If that sort of efficiency continues Sunday, it could be a long day for Woodson and the Raiders' defense.
These two may not see each other that frequently on Sunday because Jones-Drew hasn't been effective enough to earn many reps. He's been second-fiddle to Darren McFadden at running back and has posted just 26 carries for 54 yards (2.1 average) on the season, in addition to seven catches for 41 yards. But Ward is Jones-Drew's cousin, making for some potentially fun collisions between family members if and when Jones-Drew is on the field. The two played against each other three times when Ward was in Cleveland and Jones-Drew was in Jacksonville. Ward picked up seven tackles of his cousin in those games but Jones-Drew's teams won each contest. Ward will be looking to flip the script Sunday as he heads back to his native Bay Area to play in front of, and against, family.
