Three keys for Oakland Raiders to beat Saints

After giving up more than 40 points in two straight contests for the first time since 1964, the Silver and Black again faces the prospect of facing a top-ten offense and an elite quarterback in Saints signal caller, Drew Brees. The Saints have won 3 of 4 and are fresh off defeating the previously undefeated Atlanta Falcons. The forecast for Raiders victory is as grim as the gray, rainy skies in the Bay Area this weekend. The negatives are high, so let’s discuss the three positives that the Raiders will need to execute a miracle victory. One: Take advantage of an awful Saints defense: This unit has been terrible in 2012, costing them in games with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers, hardly offensive juggernauts. The secondary has been weak and until recent weeks, teams have been able to run the ball against the Saints. While they’ve recovered to about the middle of the pack in the NFL in takeaways (14th), the fundamentals of this group are poor in tackling and covering. Look for Carson Palmer and the receiving core to test Saints’ CB Roman Harper deep several times this game. If the Silver and Black makes this a shootout, then the team has a puncher’s chance. Two: Turnovers: Neither team is taking it away much, but the Saints do gamble a lot more than most teams do down the field. The Raiders need a minimum of three turnovers in this game to win. Wherever and whenever. They need to get at least three to to slow down the 4th ranked offense in the NFL and the #1 ranked passer in Brees. Anything less probably won’t get the job done. Three: All the Home Field Advantage the Raiders can handle. The Saints are a dome team. In recent seasons, they’ve been solid on the road, but not overwhelming. Their biggest losses have all come outside in the last three years in both the regular season and the playoffs. The weather forecast for Sunday is for mixed wind and showers, which may affect the Saints attack. The Raiders haven’t been a great muck team, but they need the bad bounces that bad weather brings.The Nation needs to be loud and proud and the team needs to draw strength from their energy. The Raiders are about 5 point dogs at home. If this one gets into the 40′s, then Saints will get it. Palmer needs a big day throwing the ball and the defense and special teams needs some mojo for turnovers. A 38-34 Raiders victory is possible, but don’t take that one to Vegas. Hopefully, a unlikely upset will make the Nation’s turkey day that much more enjoyable. The post Three keys for Oakland Raiders to beat Saints appeared first on Bay Area Sports Nut.