Raiders at Buccaneers: Preview, Predictions, and More

Oakland Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Oakland Raiders hope to win five consecutive road games during an extended two-week stay in Florida. After crushing the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Silver and Black will travel further south for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the defensive flaws, the Raiders continue to force turnovers and protect the football. Thus, winning the turnover battle in all five games this year.

The Buccaneers have lost a starting wide receiver and two running backs due to injuries, but Jacquizz Rodgers balanced the defense over the past two weeks with 56 carries for 255 yards on the ground. With a viable threat in the backfield, quarterback Jameis Winston’s play improved (4 TDs, 1 INT) in the previous two outings.

Here are the keys to victory for each team.

Buccaneers Keys to Victory

• Running back Charles Sims landed on injured reserve and fellow ball-carrier Doug Martin suffered a setback while recovering from a hamstring injury. Rodgers will carry the load for a third consecutive week in an attempt to exploit the Raiders’ No. 28 run defense.

• The Buccaneers can’t allow wide receiver Amari Cooper to streak behind the secondary for long receptions. The Raiders wideout ranks No. 6 in receiving yards among players at his position and leads his team in yards per catch (15.4).

Raiders Keys to Victory

• According to CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair, head coach Jack Del Rio wants Jihad Ward to play less robotic and more instinctive. The philosophy influences the rookie defensive lineman to focus on making plays rather than just covering his B-gap assignment on the interior. As an athletic defender with natural speed and power, teammates depend on Ward to seal the edge and move inside to stop ball-carriers.

• Quarterback Derek Carr draws a matchup with an average defense that’s susceptible to passing touchdown and also struggles to force turnovers. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave should open up the playbook for the wide receivers against rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. Expect Carr to take frequent shots downfield for chunk yardage.

Odds

Point Spread: Oakland at Tampa Bay (Even)
Moneyline: Oakland +105, Kansas City -125
Over/Under: 49

Prediction

The Raiders should walk away with a fairly easy win on Sunday. Oakland’s big physical cornerbacks match up favorably against wide receiver Mike Evans, who’s the focal point of the Buccaneers offense. Though talented, he’s not going to burn defensive backs on yards after the catch.

The Cooper-Hargreaves matchup will likely break the game open for Oakland’s passing attack. Behind running back Latavius Murray and a balanced offensive approach, the Silver and Black win big on the road.

Pick: Oakland Raiders: 34, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 16

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