It’s been 13 years since the Oakland Raiders have had a winning season but that run of futility is now behind them. The Raiders guaranteed themselves a winning campaign with their fifth consecutive victory, knocking off both of last season’s Super Bowl combatants during the streak. Next up is securing a playoff spot and they can solidify their position in the AFC while dealing the Buffalo Bills a crippling blow to their slim postseason chances in a Week 13 battle.
Watch this regular season Week 13 matchup live on Sunday, December 4, 2016, at 4:05 p.m. ET at Oakland Coliseum.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Buffalo Bills +3
Oakland Raiders -3
Over/Under 49.5
Odds Analysis
The Raiders like to play them close and the opening line is another indication of that. Oakland opened at -3.5 and the early money on the visitors moved the line to -3. Both teams have been strong plays on the over and the total of 49.5 is within reach, especially with Buffalo getting some key offensive weapons back in the lineup.
Injury Report
Ronald Darby – Losing their starting cornerback to a concussion is not a good sign for the Bills heading into their matchup with the Raiders. Darby left last game and his replacement, Corey White, was immediately targeted by the Jaguars. Buffalo will have a difficult time slowing down the Oakland aerial attack without Darby.
Derek Carr – Left the Carolina game briefly to get his mangled pinky finger tended to, but returned to lead the Raiders to a come-from-behind victory. This is an injury to pay close attention to as the week progresses, because Carr is the leader of the offense. Carr had a glove on his hand and took every snap from the shotgun upon his return.
Player to Watch
The Raiders’ defense remains one of the worst statistically in the NFL. However, the play-making ability of Khalil Mack on that side of the ball has the unit coming up with big stops when needed. Mack is one of the most feared defenders in the game but was a no-show during the early part of the season when the defense was allowing opponents to march up and down the field and score seemingly at will.
Mack has been a huge factor for the D during the Raiders five-game winning streak and his heroics against the Panthers allowed Oakland to secure its first winning season since 2002. Mack returned an interception for a touchdown and sacked Cam Newton on fourth down late in the game to preserve the three-point win. It was the type of effort that earned him Pro Bowl honors last season, and the type of effort he can produce on a weekly basis. Eight of Mack’s nine sacks on the year have come in the past six games and he has at least one in every contest to put him among the league-leaders in that category. Buffalo will have to account for Mack on the edge, even then he will do enough to disrupt Tyrod Taylor in the passing game.
Free ATS Pick
The Bills are still alive in the playoff picture but realistically need to win out to have a chance. So we can expect them to play with a sense of urgency and to take some chances. Buffalo hasn’t been overly impressive in its last two wins, but they got the victories and that’s all that counts. Travelling across the country is hard enough, but having to do that and face the AFC’s top team is a definite threat to the Bills winning streak and playoff hopes. However, getting Sammy Watkins back in the lineup and having LeSean McCoy perform as well as he did with an injured thumb, the Bills have their big guns on offense which will create some problems for the inconsistent Raiders defense.
And the Raiders are not going to take any chances with Carr, though he did return to the game Sunday after injuring the pinky finger on his throwing hand. Carr played well after he returned but you know he was amped on adrenaline and pain killers. It’ll be a different story with a few days to let that wear off. Watch for Rex and the Bills defense to create enough pressure to get Carr thinking about his digit, and with his play-makers making plays, the Bills will pull off the upset.
NFL Odds: Bills 29, Raiders 25
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