Cowboys vs. Raiders: Preview, score prediction for Week 15

Dallas Cowboys vs. Oakland Raiders

Both the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders enter their Week 15 Sunday Night Football game with their chances at the playoffs on the line with the Cowboys entering the game at 7-6 overall, still within distance of a wild card spot in the NFC. The Raiders are 6-7 overall, one game back of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West standings.

Even with both teams having disappointing seasons compared to what they each achieved last season, they both are still in the playoff hunt with three games left on the schedule, meaning this is a must-win game for both the Cowboys and the Raiders.

Being this game is in front of the national primetime audience and both teams being two of the most popular franchises in the league, folks will be watching as one team keeps their playoff hopes going and the other will most likely be switching their focus to next season with another loss this late in the season.

Keys To Victory

Cowboys Keys To Victory:

1. The Cowboys must be consistent on offense. If the offense struggles, then hopes for a Cowboys win will be all but over. Dak Prescott has to have another solid game, and the running game has to be productive as well.

2. For the consistency of the offense to set, the offensive line really needs to have their best game of the season. If the Cowboys allow pressure on Prescott and holes don’t break open for Rod Smith and Alfred Morris … well, it will be a long game for the Cowboys on Sunday night.

More from NFL Spin Zone

3. If the defense of the Cowboys pressures Derek Carr on Sunday night, they will win the game. This game will come down to if the Cowboys can make life tough for Carr in Week 15. If he’s disrupted, then the Raiders will struggle.

Raiders Keys To Victory

1. Like mentioned for the Cowboys, the Raiders need to keep Carr upright. Carr has completed 63.8 percent of his passes. If he’s forced into situations where he’s pressured (he’s been sacked 17 times in 12 games), the Raiders will fail. If Carr can find his receivers, well, they will have a chance to take advantage of a Cowboys defense that has been hit or miss this season due to injuries.

2. The Raiders rushing game hasn’t been much to brag about in 2017, and when Carr is your fourth-best rusher in 2017, that means not much has gone right for the rushing game. Marshawn Lynch leads Oakland with 619 yards on 147 carries, so for the Raiders to be competitive and to help Carr in the passing game, their running backs will need to tally more than their 91.5 yards per game average.

3. Keeping the Cowboys to under 24 points will be key for the Raiders defense. With the Raiders offense averaging just 20.3 points per game this season, the defense isn’t much better, allowing 23.4 ppg (20th in the NFL). The Cowboys enter this game averaging 24.3 ppg, and in their past two games (both wins) they’ve scored 38 and 30 points. The Raiders allowed 26 points to the Chiefs last week.

Odds

Point Spread: – 3, Cowboys
Moneyline: -160 Cowboys, +140 Raiders
Over/Under: 46

Prediction

A lot can happen in this Sunday Night Football matchup. The prediction is both teams will be playing hard, and if they are smart, they’ll treat it like there is a playoff atmosphere because most likely the loser of this game can kiss their playoff hopes goodbye, while the other one will still be hanging on.

Next: Cowboys: 3 Random thoughts after Week 14

The game will be on the backs of each offense with the two quarterbacks having the spotlight on them. The Cowboys seem to have the advantage in the rushing game, and the quarterback play seems to be even. Overall, the winner of this game will be determined the most by the play of the Cowboys offense vs. the defense of the Raiders. Whichever unit plays better in that matchup will determine the winner of this game.

Pick: Cowboys: 21, Raiders: 17

Home/Dallas Cowboys