Behind the Numbers - Week 15 The Oakland Raiders

The Lions travel to the Black Hole to face the Raiders Sunday

The playoff hungry Lions will be squaring off against the equally hungry Raiders on Sunday in Oakland. These teams are situationally very similar, both have had long playoff absences, both started hot and have have struggled in the mid-part of the season, and both are looking to finish strong and punch their ticket to the Big Dance. (Did you say Playoffs?) Let's take a look at how these teams match up statictically as we go Behind the Numbers after the jump...............

BY THE NUMBERS - RAIDERS OFFENSIVE RANKS

Passing - 16th overall, 227.9 ypg, 1.54 INT's pg, 1.69 Sacks pg, 74 composite QB ranking

Rushing - 6th overall, 138.8 ypg, 30.4 attempts pg, 1.15 TD's pg, 0.54 Fumbles pg

BY THE NUMBERS - RAIDERS DEFENSIVE RANKS

Passing - 18th overall, 233.7 ypg, 1.77 TD's apg, 1.15 INT's pg, 2.85 Sacks pg, 76.5 composite opponent QB rating.

Rushing - 29th overall, 141 ypg, 26.9 attempts pg, 1.08 TD's apg, 0.23 Forced Fumbles pg

In looking Behind the Numbers, this is one case where statistics fail to tell the tale. The Raiders were 4-2 through week 6 when Jason Campbell broke his collarbone and was shelved for the season. Since trading two 1st round picks for the disgruntled Carson Palmer from the Bengals, the Raiders have gone 3-4, and look like a team in disarray. Also missing premier rushing threat Darren McFadden this week, the Raiders will be relying on Michael Bush to carry the load against the Lions this week. Although there is very little dropoff from McFadden to Bush, where it really hurts the Raiders is in their depth. Where earlier in the season they had the ability to give McFadden 20 carries and Bush 10, there is a huge dropoff between Bush and 3rd string running back Rock Cartwright. Also losing Ndami Ashomugha and TE Zach Miller to free agency have further lessened the Raiders talent level. The Raiders were, in my estimation, playing above their talent level to start the season in a weak AFC West, were absolutely a team driven on a mission and possessed with a spirit to "Just Win Baby", following the death of owner Al Davis, and the last couple of weeks have seen the pendulum swing in the other direction. This looks for the Lions like a very winnable matchup, but it also looks like a very challenging matchup from many aspects. Let's take a look at how the Lions stack up versus the opponents the Raiders have faced thus far.

BY THE NUMBERS - RAIDERS OPPONENTS COMPOSITE RANKS AND AVERAGES VS. LIONS RANKS.

Offensive Passing - Raiders Opponents 225.5 ypg, 18th overall vs. Lions 275.7 ypg, 5th overall

Offensive Rushing - Raiders Opponents 110.7 ypg, 18th overall vs. Lions 100.5 ypg, 24th overall

Defensive Passing - Raiders Opponents 237.2 ypg, 21st overall vs. Lions 209.1 ypg, 9th overall

Defensive Rushing - Raiders Opponents 116.7 ypg, 19th overall vs. Lions 136.1 ypg, 27th overall

Looking at the numbers, there is a definite disparity to be seen between the Lions numbers when it comes to rushing and passing on both sides of the ball, ranging to both ends of the spectrum. The Lions don't have a clear and defined advantage statistically, but they do shade either competitive or better than the Raiders opponents. The Lions will be getting a ton of firepower on defense back this week, and that could make all the difference.

BY THE NUMBERS - LIONS OPPONENTS COMPOSITE RANKS

Offensive Passing - 226.7 ypg, 18th overall

Offensive Rushing - 125 ypg, 8th overall

Defensive Passing - 246.4 ypg, 26th overall

Defensive Rushing - 108.9 ypg, 14th overall

While the Lions have an edge against the Raiders both statistically and in a personnel breakdown of players expected to play tomorrow, they are also just 2-5 playing the Raiders in Oakland. The long travel time to the West Coast does have its effects, and the Raiders fans have always provided their team with one of the best home field advantages. The weather tomorrow in Oakland is forecasted to be sunny with a high of 58. Great football weather for the Lions playing outside. This game looks to be a heavyweight matchup between two desperate teams in the playoff race, and I'm not going to put forth one of those dipstick, melodramatic, do-or-die, overhype type of foreshadowing of this game, because fact is, win or lose, both teams will have chances after tomorrow. Although the window does get smaller for both of them, this should be a great matchup for football fans across America. It should also be one of the LONGEST NFL games you see this year, as the Lions vs Raiders is also a matchup of the 29th versus 32nd most penalized teams in the league. Let's just hope that the referee's don't screw up what should be a great game by going hankee crazy tomorrow.

Prediction - If last week gave you an ulcer, this week will give you a heart attack, it'll be that close. I think this game has a good chance of going to overtime, and that's the way I'm writing it up. Final score, Lions 34 Raiders 31 in OT.

This has been Behind the Numbers, see you again next week.........