The Oakland Raiders are close to the tail end of their road trip in Florida, but aren't planning on leaving without a victory on Sunday. After defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-16 last week, the Silver and Black get another difficult opponent in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. The Raiders have spent the majority of their week preparing for the matchup, soaking up the rays in the Sunshine State. With so much going on lately, let's get you caught up on the Week That Was.
Marquette King Shows Off His Athleticism In Win Over Jacksonville Jaguars
Marquette King has long fancied himself as more than just a punter; time and time again he's said that he is indeed an athlete.
King played wide receiver at Rutland High School in Macon, Ga., and whether it's his preference to not wear a red, non-contact jersey in practice like a majority of his colleagues around the NFL, or the plethora of dance moves that he keeps in his arsenal, No. 7 is undoubtedly not your run-of-the-mill punter.
And Sunday afternoon, he got to show the NFL world that raw, athletic ability.
Even the gutsiest of special teams coordinators probably wouldn't dial up a fake punt on 4thand 24 – and neither did Brad Seely – but with 3:42 left in the game, King found the ball in his hands, streaking down the right sideline, heading for the open field.
Key Matchups To Watch: Oakland Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Oakland Raiders took care of the first part of their business trip last weekend, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-16 at EverBank Field, and they will now look to finish off their Florida swing with a second win, as they square off with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
While the Silver and Black are coming off a convincing win, so are the Bucs, as they beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-17 at Levi's Stadium in Week 7 action.
The Raiders own a 5-2 record and remain tied for the AFC West lead as they approach the halfway point of the 2016 campaign, and will look to remain there or take the outright lead with a win over the Buccaneers.
Fueled by a talented, young quarterback and a resurgent run game, Tampa Bay poses a big test for Head Coach Jack Del Rio's team. Here are three matchups that will be critical in determining the final outcome of the Week 8 rumble.
A Look Ahead: Raiders Who Could Earn Pro Bowl Selection
The halfway point of the 2016 NFL season is approaching, and the Oakland Raiders enter Week 8 with a record of 5-2. The Silver and Black have been able to achieve their current record with solid performances from a variety of players.
The Raiders have an arsenal of weapons on their roster, so let’s take a look at seven potential Pro Bowl candidates from the team.
Quarterback Derek Carr
In the early going, Carr has looked like a potential MVP-candidate, and has earned the respect and praise of several football analysts around the country. The third-year signal-caller has completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 1,808 yards, 13 touchdowns, and limited his interceptions to only three. What doesn't show up in the stat sheet is his ability to lead clutch game-winning drives in the final moments of games.
Right Combination Play: Johnny Holton Gallops For A 29-Yard Gain
Another road game, another win for the Oakland Raiders.
The Silver and Black convincingly beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-16 Sunday afternoon at EverBank Field, improving their record to an impressive 4-0 away from home.
Latavius Murray returned to the field, helping lift the Raiders run game to their most-productive output since Week 2, but interestingly enough, the longest run of the day came from rookie wide receiver Johnny Holton.
AFC West Update: Running Back C.J. Anderson Will Miss Significant Time
It's Week 8 of the NFL season and the halfway point of year has nearly arrived. After seven games, the AFC West has established itself as one of the toughest divisions – if not the toughest – in the league. From top to bottom, the AFC West is loaded with talent, and teams that could emerge as playoff contenders down the road.
The Oakland Raiders currently sit atop the division with the Denver Broncos at 5-2, while the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers trail. The Bolts have suffered an overwhelming amount of injuries in the first quarter of the season, but it now it appears as though the Broncos are being hit with the injury bug.
This week should be filled with lots of AFC West action and storylines, so let’s get you updated with a look around the division.
By The Numbers: An Inside Look At The Raiders Early Success
The Oakland Raiders have been impressive this season, and their play on the field has caught the attention of spectators around the league. The Silver and Black rank in the upper echelon of a plethora of statistical categories this year, and although stats aren't everything, they speak volumes to how successful the team has been thus far. The most important stat is the fact that the Raiders are currently 5-2, but let’s take a look at some stats you might be unaware of.
Defense
The Raiders defense got off to a slow start this season, but the team is certainly showing signs of improvement. For the first time since 2002, the team has been able to force 13 turnovers through the first seven games of the season.
13 takeaways through 7 games are most since the Super Bowl year in 2002 (15). The team's turnover margin was 4. The 2016 margin is currently 8.
On the offensive side of the ball, the team has been able to put up the most total yards since their Super Bowl season in 2002. 2,587 total yards are most by the Raiders since 2002 (3,020).
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