Five Key Matchups: vs. Raiders
The Broncos will face an improved Raiders team on Sunday, and we've isolated these five matchups as some of the best to watch for.
With starting cornerback T.J. Carrie out with a chest injury, the cornerback the Raiders choose to guard him with could be a rotating bunch. D.J. Hayden will probably see his shots at Thomas, but being 4 inches shorter is a sizable disadvantage against the 6-foot-3 receiver. Neiko Thorpe has seen plenty of snaps defensively, and at 6-foot-1, he's a bit closer to Thomas' height. With fellow second-stringer Keith McGill recovering from a foot injury, Thorpe might start on Thomas.
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was promising in his rookie season and has shown more progress in Year 2. With better receiving options, Carr and Oakland's offense has been more effective. However, the Broncos' two starting cornerbacks make things difficult on any quarterback. Chris Harris Jr. will not give much space to anyone he covers and Carr will have to be careful to pick his spots well.
Woodson spoke earlier this week about having never picked off Manning during his NFL career, and with two interceptions in four games, he'll be eyeing any opportunity he can get. Woodson's impact is still profound in this Raiders defense, however.
Mack's a dynamic player off the edge for the Raiders, and whether he's lining up in a three-point stance with his hand in the dirt or standing up, he can fly into the backfield. Schofield had a solid first start against the Vikings, but Mack will provide him a tougher task.
One savvy vet vs. one talented rookie. Cooper's presence has been a major boon for the Raiders' passing offense and for QB Derek Carr. His routes are precise and, with his size and speed, Cooper is a dangerous threat. However, Talib is a Pro Bowl cornerback who has fantastic speed and agility, and outstanding hands, as shown by his two interceptions.
