Prior to the Oakland Raiders 34-20 win over the New York Jets, Raiders.com Senior Editor Jerry Knaak posed five questions. Here are the answers to those questions.
1. Can the Raiders win two in a row?
Yes. The Raiders have now won two games in a row for the second time this season. Earlier this year they defeated the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns in succession and now the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets in back-to-back weeks. Now, can the Raiders win three in a row? That is the question. If the Raiders are going to make a run, they are going to have to mount a significant winning streak.
2. Can Amari Cooper take over Revis Island?
The Raiders mercurial rookie wide receiver didn't make any game-breaking plays against Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis but he did catch 5 passes for 46 yards. Revis was pretty much a non-factor as Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw for 333 yards and 4 TDs. Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and Carr went right after Revis with a deep shot to Cooper on the Raiders first play from scrimmage. It may have fallen incomplete but it certainly sent a message.
**
- Can the Raiders run the ball?**
Yes. Running back Latavius Murray rushed for 113 yards on a defense that was only allowing 71 yards per game coming in. The week before, the New England Patriots only called five running plays and threw the ball more than 50 times in a win over the Jets. The Raiders went with a more balanced attack with 23 called runs and 36 called pass plays (23 completions).
4. Can the Raiders stop the run?
Yes. The Jets and running back Chris Ivory featured one of the NFL's top rushing attacks coming in. The Raiders shut Ivory down, making several tackles for loss. Ivory managed 17 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Geno Smith was the team's leading rusher and had a long of 29. He paid the price for that one as cornerback David Amerson cleaned Smith's clock on a monster hit along the Jets sideline.
5. Can the Raiders keep Derek Carr clean?
Yes. Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr hung in the pocket and took a couple of shots as he unloaded passes but the Raiders offensive line did not allow a sack. Carr has only been sacked 8 times this season, and 4 of those came in a Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos.
