Key Matchups
Derek Carr vs. Von Miller & Bradley Chubb
Derek Carr has had his work cut out for him when going against Von Miller twice a year. However, the two have high mutual respect for each other, and always have high praise for one another whenever it is Raiders week. That being said, the pass rush struggled to get to Derek Carr last season, only getting to him twice last season for a total loss of just -9 yards (per ESPN). The pass rush is going to want to put up better numbers against Carr this year. Simply put, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb will be out for blood. With the Raiders offensive line banged up, the remaining healthy guys will have a lot of work to do to keep Carr upright and to contain both Miller and Chubb.
Chris Harris Jr. vs. Tyrell Williams
While the Broncos have likely been preparing as if Antonio Brown was to play, they surely have prepared for other scenarios, such as CHJ matching up against Tyrell Williams. With the departure of Brown, Williams is now WR1 for the Raiders, and CHJ is the best option to line up against him. While Williams is not Brown, he is a solid option at receiver and was a reliable option for Phillip Rivers during his time with the Chargers. He will likely be a consistent target for Derek Carr. The Raiders’ offensive plan will likely be to turn to their ground game with rookie RB Josh Jacobs, as the Broncos’ defense has not enjoyed great success against the run in the previous years. The Broncos’ plan is to force the ball into Carr’s hands, where Tyrell Williams will become a big factor. CHJ must shut him down.
Phillip Lindsay vs. the defensive line
Phillip Lindsay’s strong suit is making something out of nothing and creating opportunity for himself. Lindsay was definitely a bright spot in a not so bright 2018 season. I think it goes without saying that the Broncos are excited to see what he can accomplish in 2019. However, the Raiders defensive line is full of hard hitters that will be looking to shut Lindsay down. Guys like Vontaze Burfict, Jonathan Hankins and Maurice Hurst are more than capable of shutting Lindsay down. Hopefully the offensive line will be able to contain these guys and open up holes for Lindsay, making his job a little easier. Otherwise, Lindsay may have to do what he’s best at and create something out of nothing.
X-Factors
Jonathan Abram
Rookie safety Jonathan Abram impressed much of the NFL in preseason play and in his appearances on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” It is no secret that the Raiders have struggled defensively, causing them to recruit a barrage of defensive talent coming into the 2019 season. Abram is a hard-hitting mean machine and Flacco must be careful with his throws, as Abram has the ability to make both Flacco and Flacco’s target pay.
Broncos’ TE vs Raiders defense
Much like the Broncos, the Raiders tend to struggle when covering tight ends. Although it is not quite clear what TE will be getting the most reps come Monday night, but whoever it is may be a favorite target of Joe Flacco. As we know, Flacco loves to throw to tight ends, and if there’s a possibility that is an area the Raiders may struggle with, why not utilize that? Emmanuel Sanders will likely be covered by Gareon Conley, and with coming back from injury, it may be best to ease Sanders back in and give him limited targets. Whether it be Jeff Heuerman, Noah Fant or even Troy Fumagalli, the tight end option is definitely one worth exploring.