Oakland Raiders
2011 PFF All-AFC West Team
The fourth stop on our all division tour of the 2011 season (AFC East, AFC North, AFC South) sees us head out West as we tip our hat to the top individual performers from the AFC West. In a season when no team could sustain a high level of play throughout, there were both some tough choices due to excellent play and some tough choices due to a distinct lack of quality.
As with the other All-Division Teams that we’ve presented this week, some discretion was required for defensive personnel to ensure the best players make the team rather than the best players that fit a certain scheme.
Here, then, is PFF’s All-AFC West Team for the 2011 season:
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Re-Focused: Chargers @ Raiders, Week 17
While San Diego may have already been eliminated from playoff contention, you could tell from the kickoff that they were intent on preventing Oakland from winning the division. Philip Rivers was in the kind of form that very few other quarterbacks have ever produced, with his nagging injury long in the past. This was another season where probably the best overall team in the division will find themselves at home during the postseason.
For the Raiders, they couldn’t stand the pressure in front of their home fans when the Broncos were losing to the Chiefs, opening up the chance at the AFC West crown. It was their front four that won them the first matchup, sacking Rivers six times. This time, with Jared Gaither controlling the dangerous Kamerion Wimbley, Norv Turner was able to call up the vertical pass plays which are such a staple of the Chargers’ offense and gash Oakland through the air.
Three to Focus On: Chargers @ Raiders, Week 17
The Chargers won’t be able to realize their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl this season, but now that they’ve been eliminated they can take solace in spoiling a division rival’s playoff hopes. It’s a small consolation, but just enough motivation to keep the dejected Chargers competitive. There’s also a good chance it will be the team’s last time playing for Norv Tuner, which could cause the players to give their best effort in an attempt to send their head coach off right even if things didn’t go as planned during his tenure.
The Raiders obviously don’t need any extra motivation with a division title still in sight and a chance for the sixth seed wild card spot even if Denver wins. Oakland has won their last three meetings with San Diego, each by at least a seven point margin. Carson Palmer (-3.1) got his first win as a Raider against the Chargers back in Week 10 and, in a small sample size, has historically played well against San Diego. He played the Chargers twice as a Bengal since PFF began collecting data and graded well in both games, with his best grade in 2010 coming against San Diego. Now that Palmer is a Raider, will the Chargers become the division rival he always saves his best efforts for? Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused – Raiders @ Chiefs, Week 16
Things often get ugly when these teams get together—okay, in any game in which the Raiders are involved this season—but the Raiders and Chiefs apparently took that trend as a challenge in this game. This season’s most penalized team (Oakland) playing the team with the NFL record for penalties in a season (Kansas City) kept Mike Carey and crew extra alert and perhaps a little less judicious in letting the laundry fly at Arrowhead. The officials had a bit of difficulty spotting the first flag thrown, but it was probably easier when the 26th flag hit the grass.
Mistakes and missed opportunities were the theme of the game, although the quality of play did improve after a first half that included 18 of the 26 penalties. Each team had one particularly painful penalty in the first half. Read the rest of this entry »
Three to Focus on: Raiders @ Chiefs, Week 16
The AFC West suddenly got very interesting on Sunday with the Chargers and Chiefs suddenly right back in the race for the division crowd after big wins. It seems unbelievable that a Kansas City team that lost it’s first two games by a combined score of 89-10 could still have a shot at a playoff spot with two games remaining, but that’s the type of year it has been in the AFC West.
For Oakland, it seems like a long time ago that they were 7-4 and seemingly cruising towards the postseason. However, last week’s late loss to Detroit, coupled with their two humbling defeats at the hands of Miami and Green Bay, have brought them right back into the chasing pack.
As we hit the last two weeks of the season, the race for the AFC West is one of the most intriguing stories in the NFL, with this being the only divisional matchup in the West this week. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three areas to focus on this Sunday.
Re-Focused: Lions @ Raiders: Week 15
With both teams in the thick of the playoff hunt it was a must win for each side. The Raiders were trying to keep pace with Tim Tebow and the Broncos while the Lions were fighting to keep a tight grasp on their wild-card lead.
Oakland’s offense seemed to be back on track after going through a slump, while their defense had no answer for “Megatron” late in the game. The Raiders’ losing streak needs to end if they are to have any shot at taking the AFC West crown, which is as wide open, as it was when the season started.
As for Detroit, another comeback victory was just what the doctor ordered. With little help from the defense despite the return of Ndamukong Suh and Chris Houston it’s safe to say the Lions will go as Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson go. Is there a better duo in the NFL right now?
Three to Focus On: Lions @ Raiders, Week 15
It’s “must win” time for the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders. At 8-5, The Lions are in line for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC while the Raiders just lost their grasp on the AFC West and currently sit one game out of the Wild Card race in the AFC.
It was a close call for the Lions as they nearly blew a 28-7 lead last week against the Vikings, but linebacker DeAndre Levy’s sack and forced fumble on the goal line ended the rally. They’ll welcome the return of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh from his two-game suspension.
The Raiders have been downright awful the last two weeks. Quarterback Carson Palmer continues to turn the ball over and their defensive line has been handled fairly easily. Both Palmer and the line will need to improve to give the Raiders a chance to get back in the playoff hunt. With so many teams battling for the last Wild Card spot in the AFC, their best chance may be through winning the division, but they better hope that Denver Broncos’ opponents figure out a way to stop their fourth-quarter magic. Read the rest of this entry »
Re-Focused: Raiders @ Packers, Week 14
Green Bay’s quest for the perfect season remains on course. The latest team to step up to the plate and try to derail their season was the Oakland Raiders. At 46-16, it’s safe to say they didn’t pose too much of a threat.
The Packers were rolling early in the game and Carson Palmer showed some of the poor play that he showed in his later time in Cincinnati, as if the three-week warranty had worn off on his resurgence in Oakland.
Green Bay led 31-0 at the half and was really just on cruise control in the second half, and Oakland rolled over for the second week on the bounce, threatening to limp their way out of playoff contention in the AFC West
Three to Focus on: Raiders @ Packers, Week 14
The Raiders started the season with high hopes and, with the Chargers and Chiefs slumping, the division looked like it was theirs for the taking. Then in Week 6, quarterback Jason Campbell was lost for the season. In a move that looked like desperation, the Raiders traded a pair of high future draft picks to acquire Carson Palmer.
Things started to look like they would work out for the Radiers, and then Tim Tebow and the Broncos decided it was their turn to make a run for the division. A loss last week to the Dolphins didn’t help matters, and now they have the undefeated Packers on the schedule. Green Bay looked almost beatable last week against the Giants, but a two minute drill worked to perfection to keep the Packers perfect.
While things might not look good for the Raiders, the Packers are beatable. If Oakland is going to do it, this is how they are going to get it done.
Re-Focused: Raiders at Dolphins, Week 13
It wasn’t meant to be like this for the Oakland Raiders who were in the drivers seat for the AFC West. They visited Miami with everything to play for and left battered and bruised after the Dolphins took them to task with a relentless display on both sides of the ball. Oakland was outrushed 209 yards (with a 4.8 yards per carry) to 46 (3.3 per) and this was the fourth time in the last six games they were flagged at least 10 times.
The final score flattered Oakland with two consolation touchdowns which were two more than they deserved. Given how the Raiders found themselves manhandled on both sides of the ball, they have a lot of soul-searching to do. Will they simply get better when players return? Or has the momentum that at one time made them favorites for the AFC West run its course? Read the rest of this entry »
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