Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders Week Four Preview

The Denver Broncos take on the Oakland Raiders in their final game before the bye week. We take a look at some key factors for this game.

Before the Denver Broncos take a week off for their yearly bye week, the Oakland Raiders come to town. It will be a key matchup and a big divisional battle. Both teams are tied for second place in the AFC West.

This game will determine who will keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs in the competitive division. Will it be the Broncos or the Raiders? An old standing rivalry begins a new chapter on Sunday afternoon.

Both teams are coming off a tough loss. The Denver Broncos seemed to be in control most of the game against Buffalo. However it just was a strange game from the second quarter on. It will be interesting to see how Vance Joseph rebounds from a loss.

The Oakland Raiders seemed off for the majority of their game against the Washington Redskins. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how rough the Raiders defense has looked. They are near the bottom in yards allowed.

The offense yardage wise does not seem like the Raiders offense we know from last year. It will be interesting how the Broncos defense does.

A big time game for both games. Let us see how the two teams matchup up.

Key Matchups

Derek Carr vs. Broncos Secondary

Marshawn Lynch vs. Broncos Front Seven

Trevor SIemian vs. Raiders Secondary

What to Watch For:

How will Vance Joseph bounce back from a loss?

One thing that will be curious to see is how a rookie coach will rebound from a loss. In my opinion, after looking back, this game could have been won. What made the game so ugly were the untimely turnovers and inability to get off the field.

How will Vance Joseph rebound from his first loss as head coach? That will be something worth watching.

Can Trevor Siemian bounce back against a tough foe?

Up until the costly turnovers, Trevor Siemian was doing alright. From what I have seen in the past, Siemian is well known from recovering from a mistake. Last Sunday, he was unable to do that.

He has been one of the more intriguing surprises on the Broncos in the first handful of games. If he can lead the Broncos to a win over the Raiders, that will hopefully silence the critics for another week.

Can “Ground Control” contain Marshawn Lynch?

I will say this now, I am not sure where “Ground Control” came from. However, it has been floating around social media. It seems to be the name the fans have given the Broncos front seven.

I do not think I would be ready to give them a nickname until we can see them in a few more games. This next game will be a good test for them. So far, they have limited Melvin Gordon and LeSean McCoy to under 80 yards on the ground. This also includes limiting Ezekiel Elliott to just eight yards.

If they can contain Marshawn Lynch, it will be a good game for the defense.

Prediction:

Despite the loss, I still have faith in the Denver Broncos. While the Raiders did beat an up and coming Titans team, they showed that they are vulnerable. The Broncos on paper look better than the Raiders do.

With this being a home game and a key divisional round, I believe the Denver Broncos bounce back and get the win. And here is a bonus. The No Fly Zone rebounds. Aqib Talib also snatches another chain.

Broncos 27 Raiders 23

Next: Denver Broncos Players will stand together Sunday

Game Information:

If you are in the RED, you will get the Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders game. (Sorry Broncos fans in Arizona.)

Who: Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders

Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

When: Sunday October 1st, 2017

Time: 4:25 PM EST/2:25 PM MST

TV Station: CBS

Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter)