Jets-Raiders Week 8 Clash Expected To Be A Highly Contested Game
By Abraham Gutierrez
Looking to string together their second win streak of the 2015 NFL season, the (3-3) Oakland Raiders welcome a very dangerous team in the (4-2) New York Jets. This NFL Week 8 clash of intraconference rivals is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. PT from the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California, and it will be broadcast live on CBS Sports.
The last time these teams met dates back to September of last season, when Gang Green defeated the Silver and Black by a final score of 19-14 in front of a sold-out crowd at MetLife Stadium. Power running back, Chris Ivory led the charge for the home club, tallying a game-high 102 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.
Jets 2015 NFL Season Record
Prior to last week's game against the Patriots, New York was off to one of the best starts in franchise history and riding high with confidence. However, like he's done to so many opponents throughout his career, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady humbled the Jets.
Picking his level of play with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Brady led the Pats to a 30-23 victory, which in the process snapped Todd Bowles' two-game winning streak. Looking to get back into the win column, Gang Green will rely heavily on its running game and its defense when it travels out west for Sunday's encounter in the Black Hole.
Jets On Offense
Offensively, the "J-E-T-S!" are one of the most balanced teams in the National Football League, earning a top-10 ranking in three of the four major statistical categories. Under the direct supervision of offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey, New York comes into Week 8 third in the NFL rushing yards per game (136.5), seventh in points scored (25.3) and eighth in total yards (378.5).
However, their weakest link can be found in an area where the Raiders have also struggled, as the Jets passing game ranks 16th in the National Football League, tallying just 242 yards per game. It's going to be very interesting to see what kid of gameplan Bowles and his staff come up with considering the Raiders defense has been one of the best in the league against the run, but among the worst versus the pass.
Jets On Defense
Entering last week's contest against the Patriots, the Jets defense was the best in the National Football League in a number of areas. After Hurricane Brady, however, New York's defense lost a little bit of steam in the numbers department, but it's still very much the strength of this ballclub.
Before entering the Black Hole, defensive coordinator, Kacy Rodgers' defense ranks tops in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (71.5), second in total yards surrendered (283.2), and fourth in both, point per game (17.5) and passing yards per game (211.7). Last week against the Patriots, however, Gang Green's "D" gave up 355 passing yards and three touchdowns to Tom Brady – two passing and one rushing.
Jets Players To Watch
Offensively, there's no secret as to what the New York Jets want to do: Play smash-mouth football via the old ground-and-pound. This becomes an easy proposition with the type of season Chris Ivory is having, as the bruising halfback comes into Week 8 ranked sixth in the NFL with 501 yards on 100 carries and four touchdowns.
Defensively, there are so many impact players Jack Del Rio needs to prepare for that accounting for everyone could prove to be a daunting task. However, if one had to narrow it down to two players, it would have to be (defensive end) Muhammad Wilkerson, and, of course, (cornerback) Darrelle Revis.
In his fifth season out of Temple, Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks, which also has him tied for ninth place in the National Football League. As for the man who has an island named after him, Revis enters Week 8 as the Jets leader in interceptions with 3, which is also good enough for fourth-best in the NFL.
Jets vs. Raiders 2015 NFL Week 8 Point Spreads
When the Jets and Raiders collide in Northern California Sunday afternoon, NFL Week 8 oddsmakers are expecting a highly contested affair. This is evidence by the fact that Week 8 money lines have the Raiders valued as +110 home underdogs, and the Jets as -130 road favorites. NFL Week 8 point spreads also indicate things will be close throughout, with Oakland enjoying a +2.5-point cushion and New York needing to win by a field goal in order to yield a winning bet at -2.5. Finally, there's the projected point-total for this battle, which as of Tuesday morning, is set at a combined tally of 44.5.
Abe Gutierrez's (Twitter: @GutierrezAbe) passion led him to ditch law school journey in order to launch his own publishing company. His expertise make him a valued addition to Examiner.com, AXS.com and the CBS-Sports family. Some of his work can be found on CBS-Miami (Dolphins), CBS-LosAngeles (Chargers), CBS-BayArea (Raiders), CBS-NewYork (NY Jets), CBS-TampaBay (Buccaneers), AXS.com, aExaminer.com and other online publications.
