The Oakland Raiders have now won back-to-back games, convincingly beating the New York Jets 34-20 to improve their record to 4-3.
Their next test comes this Sunday as the Silver and Black travel to Pittsburgh to take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers, so heading into their Week 9 showdown, let's double-check our matchups of the week, brought to you by State Farm.
Cornerbacks David Amerson and DJ Hayden vs. Wide Receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant
There's no sugarcoating this matchup, as the Raiders corners will have their hands full this weekend as they take on the Steelers.
Antonio Brown, the 2014 NFL receiving leader, is one of the best wide receivers in the game, and Martavis Bryant is a rising star in the league.
The dynamic duo for the Steelers presents a challenge to the Raiders defensive backs, and although they've been improving each week, they know Sunday will be no walk in the park.
"I think it's just a combination of speed and quickness," said Amerson when asked about Antonio Brown. "You can't [replicate] that, and when a guy has both of them, it makes it pretty tough to guard them because it's not like he just does one thing well or is this or that. He has speed and speed kills, and he's quick. It's definitely something to deal with."
Running Back Latavius Murray vs. the Steelers defensive line.
Latavius Murray has rushed for over 100 yards three times in his career and the Raiders are 3-0 in these games.
Coincidence? I don't think so.
Heading into their contest with the Silver and Black, the Steelers are averaging 349.1 yards per game, but even that number might be a tad deceiving considering their starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed four games earlier in the season.
Keeping Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense off the field will be critical if the Raiders want to march into Pittsburgh and come out with a win, and getting the run game going will be a top priority.
The offensive line has been giving Murray lanes to work the past several weeks, and another big day from the Raiders bell cow would go a long way in securing a Raiders win.
Left Tackle Donald Penn vs. Defensive End Stephon Tuitt
A battle between two monstrous men.
Through eight games, Tuitt has totaled 3.5 sacks and 21 total tackles, and has shown the ability to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
On the other side of the ball, Penn and the Raiders offensive line has done a masterful job of keeping quarterback Derek Carr clean, and they're hoping to see more of the same Sunday at Heinz Field.
The battle between Penn and Tuitt will be one to keep an eye on as the game progresses, and it'll be interesting to see who comes out the victor when all is said and done.
