If the Las Vegas Raiders want even a chance at winning the AFC West and overtaking the Kansas City Chiefs, or even being the wildcard team over the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers, they need to win games over the best teams in the league, like this game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Of course, we know, it won't be easy at all. However, if they do certain things, the things they are supposed to do but seemingly struggled to do last week, they can have a much better shot at winning this game this week. If not, they will get blown out of the water.
So what are the keys to the game? Well, they are pretty obvious, really.
Raiders' keys to the game vs. Ravens
1. Gardner Minshew HAS to play well
Minshew did not play well on Sunday last week, and a lot of that has to do with being uncomfortable in the pocket, and some of it just him not taking shots down the field. According to Next Gen Stats, Gardner Minshew averaged 4.4 air yards per attempt. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 257 yards, but he only attempted two passes of 20 or more air yards.
The fumble is what changed the game. It looked to be an RPO play with Minshew running a bootleg, and as he went to throw the ball, he just dropped it. It just fell right out of his hands. The Raiders couldn't get any continuity going and that's largely because of how Minshew played. If he plays better, and has a great game, like we know he's capable of, the Raiders can win this game.
2. Offensive line play
The offensive line is a bit banged up, with Kolton Miller playing through injuries from the offseason and barely having a training camp, if at all, and Thayer Munford having some issues with his hands. Then there is rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, the projected starter this offseason, who is out as well.
They have not given Minshew much time to throw when he is in the pocket, and have opened little to no gaps for the run game, which is a big reason Zamir White did so badly.
3. Run game needs to be better
A 12-personnel offense has to have a good running game, or the offense as a whole just won't work. The run game sets up everything else. If they can get Zamir White going, and create gaps for him to hit and continually keep the defense on their toes, while also wearing them out, it will open up everything else, especially the play-action game.
They have two guys who can tote the rock in White and Mattison. Keep those two involved heavily, and all should be well for the silver and black.
