Did Oakland's offense peak too soon?

[A Defiant Goose]

Oakland's offense is seen as one of the best in the league, maybe the best in the AFC. When people talk about what team could give New England the most fits in the playoffs, the Raiders are usually at the top of the list along with the Steelers because they can keep up with the Patriots if the game is a shoot out. But did Oakland peak too soon? Are we starting to see the wear and tear of the season take its toll on the offense, or can we chalk it up to hard-fought December divisional football with playoff implications on the line week to week? Do you think the Raiders are in for a disappointing playoff season (like a KC upset in the divisional round)?

Here is the scoring output for Oakland with the opposing team's defensive points per game ranking:

1. 35 points @ Saints (28.0 average) +7.0
2. 28 points vs Falcons (25.6 average) +2.4
3. 17 points @ Titans (23.1 average) -6.1
4. 28 points @ Baltimore (18.8 average) +9.2
5. 34 points vs Chargers (26.1 average) +7.9
6. 10 points vs Chiefs (19.6 average) -9.6
7. 33 points @ Jaguars (25.6 average) +7.4
8. 30 points @ Buccaneers (23.0 average) +7.0
9. 30 points vs Broncos (18.4 average) +11.6
10. - BYE
11. 27 points vs Texans (21.0 average) +6.0
12. 35 points vs Panthers (25.1 average) +9.9
13. 38 points vs Bills (22.4 average) +12.6
14. 13 points @ Chiefs (19.6 average) -6.6
15. 19 points @ Chargers (26.1 average) -7.1

Prior to the bye week, the Raiders scored an average of 4.1 points higher than the opponent' season average. Since then, it's dropped to 3. We know first hand what a powerful offense that is starting to dwindle looks like, are we seeing it again this year in Oakland?

In my opinion, the Raiders are still one of the strongest if not the strongest offense in the AFC. They've had to play some tough games on the road against divisional rivals lately, one of which is fighting them for a divisional round bye, and they've managed to not crumble under the pressure. If you ask me though, I think they are ripe for an upset. I don't think they go beyond the divisional round whether they get a bye or not. They seem to only "gut out" wins against bad teams (Saints, Chargers twice, Panthers) and though I don't bash them for playing the teams on their schedule and winning whether it's ugly or not, I don't think that kind of play will hold up in the playoffs. But we've seen much stranger things happen.

 

[BobDigital]

I think it is about the injury to Carr more than peaking or not (not to say you indicated injuries were not a factor). I do wonder if anyone knows if this will be a thing the rest of the year or if it will heal in a few more weeks though as that could matter a lot to the Patriots chances to get the first seed and beat them if we play.

Right now the way they are playing i don't worry about them at all. If Carr gets healthy they could be a threat for sure. To me Pitt and Denver (at Denver) were the problems to start the year for the Pats and I think that was the case 2-3 weeks ago the way it was looking.

KC is not the same when not home (much like Denver)

I just want to also mention though i don't think we will lose to them the Titans over the past 2 weeks got some very big wins. home vs Den and at KC back to back. Something to keep an eye on as they are not the push overs some are assuming I think. The past 5 games they have played really well.

 

[50-yard-line]

Big and good OL, lots of talent, decent young QB. They'll be a tough out for anyone...probably tougher next year.

I think the Pats take them out in the Razor or the Black Hole.

 

[Kontradiction]

You were listening to Kirwin and Miller yesterday afternoon, weren't you?

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Actually, high-scoring offenses tend to perform below their regular season average when they go up again better defenses in the playoffs...

That's what makes the 2014 season so unique...Pats just lit up the boards against a pourous Ravens secondary, an anemic Colts run defense, and an otherwise historic Seattle defense that seemed to breakdown at the worst possible time in the 4th quarter

 

[A Defiant Goose]

You were listening to Kirwin and Miller yesterday afternoon, weren't you?

I don't drive, I commute to work. I forget what it was that sprung this thought. I think it was just seeing the scores and noticing Oakland barely put up 19 on San Diego. Also partly due to the talk about or defense

 

[turkeyneck]

I'm going with Carr's injury having the biggest effect. He's not been under center much and his throws have been less than authoritative in the last two games. Both are signs that the pinky is being problematic. How long that last? Who knows?

 

[Gronkowski123]

pats are peaking at the right time!! im so excited!

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't drive, I commute to work. I forget what it was that sprung this thought. I think it was just seeing the scores and noticing Oakland barely put up 19 on San Diego. Also partly due to the talk about or defense

They were actually talking about this exact topic yesterday. I think part of Oakland's issue on offense right now stems from Carr's finger. I think you'll continue to see them improve as his finger continues to heal. Even so, he does have small hands and that can be an issue if they have to play in a cold weather game in the playoffs.

 

[70Dart]

I think as a season goes on, teams just start to figure out their opponents more. The schemes they run both offensively and defensively. We saw it in 2007 with the Patriots, teams like the Ravens and I think the Eagles (?) and the Giants really took it to us in the regular season.The Patriots seemed invincible so to see them struggle against even a couple of teams was a shocker. They were blowing out almost everyone they played. They were nail biter close, which I guess that will happen to every team at some point in a season. I mean we saw it with the Colts of 2006 (?) as well. I guess I just kind of see it as normal NFL play.

With all that being said, I still say the Pats can take them. It will be close though.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

They were actually talking about this exact topic yesterday. I think part of Oakland's issue on offense right now stems from Carr's finger. I think you'll continue to see them improve as his finger continues to heal. Even so, he does have small hands and that can be an issue if they have to play in a cold weather game in the playoffs.

I started the thread and halfway through my post answered my own question. The original question was actually going to be, "Is Oakland's offense overrated?" But I realized through my own research no, they're actually pretty damn good. I think how a team plays in December especially against divisional rivals and especially with seeding on the line is telling of how a team will perform in the postseason (except for the ****-outta-nowhere teams like the 2012 Ravens). I hadn't thought much of the finger injury, thought he was over it by the next week. They're going to really need that bye week for the extra rest

 

[Kontradiction]

I started the thread and halfway through my post answered my own question. The original question was actually going to be, "Is Oakland's offense overrated?" But I realized through my own research no, they're actually pretty damn good. I think how a team plays in December especially against divisional rivals and especially with seeding on the line is telling of how a team will perform in the postseason (except for the ****-outta-nowhere teams like the 2012 Ravens). I hadn't thought much of the finger injury, thought he was over it by the next week. They're going to really need that bye week for the extra rest

The finger injury was one of the worst dislocations I've ever seen. By definition, he has some torn ligaments in it that take a little bit to heal. You can see the difference in some of his throws that have been a bit off the mark where he'd hit them like lasers earlier in the season. They'll improve.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

been hearing this "peaking" word a lot lately... was it nance or simms that said it?

 

[Patjew]

I don't drive, I commute to work. I forget what it was that sprung this thought. I think it was just seeing the scores and noticing Oakland barely put up 19 on San Diego. Also partly due to the talk about or defense

Isn't driving a type of a commute?

 

[Joey007]

I think it is about the injury to Carr more than peaking or not (not to say you indicated injuries were not a factor). I do wonder if anyone knows if this will be a thing the rest of the year or if it will heal in a few more weeks though as that could matter a lot to the Patriots chances to get the first seed and beat them if we play.

Right now the way they are playing i don't worry about them at all. If Carr gets healthy they could be a threat for sure. To me Pitt and Denver (at Denver) were the problems to start the year for the Pats and I think that was the case 2-3 weeks ago the way it was looking.

KC is not the same when not home (much like Denver)

I just want to also mention though i don't think we will lose to them the Titans over the past 2 weeks got some very big wins. home vs Den and at KC back to back. Something to keep an eye on as they are not the push overs some are assuming I think. The past 5 games they have played really well.

Titans could be a surprise divisional round matchup for us.

They have elements to their team that are a little scary right now. But then again, Mike Mularkey.

 

[Kontradiction]

Titans could be a surprise divisional round matchup for us.

They have elements to their team that are a little scary right now. But then again, Mike Mularkey.

They're one of the more physical teams in the AFC but their receiving corps is incredibly suspect. Sell out on the run and you should be good to go.

 

[Joey007]

They're one of the more physical teams in the AFC but their receiving corps is incredibly suspect. Sell out on the run and you should be good to go.

And throw it like Hell, their secondary remains atrocious.

Gotta say in the long term though that with all these draft picks that they've piled up from the Rams, this will be a team we will be hearing about for quite a while. They're a WR and a CB away from really being serious.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Carr can't take direct snaps under center. Everything is out of the shotgun or pistol. The can't even run him under center in short yardage or for play action. Makes things very predictable.

This is a major, major problem.

No chance in hell NE loses to the Raiduhs in NE, OAK, Las Vegas or Cabo.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Isn't driving a type of a commute?

No ********, I thought about this a couple minutes after I typed that and thought "Oh, nobody will notice." I was wrong of course lol. I meant I take the T into work, so I don't drive to work ergo don't listen to sports radio in the morning/noon

 

[turkeyneck]

Isn't driving a type of a commute?

Talmudic much?