Derek Carr had a breakout performance in Week 6, finishing with four touchdown passes. He was poised and in control, and he looked the part of a franchise quarterback. He'll have to prove that his play last week wasn't a fluke and that he can maintain that level of play against a stout Arizona defense.
The success of the offense will largely depend on the continued development of the rushing attack. It's not a coincidence that the passing's game's best game coincided with the running game finally getting going.
Darren McFadden averaged over 5.5 yards per carry last week. He should see an increased workload against the Cardinals, and his productivity will be an indicator of the offense's overall performance.
While the offense has shown some promising signs, the defense has yet to play a game it can be proud of. The unit will have another opportunity to change that this week against Carson Palmer and the Cardinals offense.
The defensive performance will ultimately be decided by whether or not the defensive line is able to get pressure on Palmer. If he has time, Palmer will pick apart the Oakland secondary. But if he's under pressure, he'll be prone to mistakes. The play of the defensive line will determine the defense's success.
Will this be the week the Raiders finally get that elusive first win? We'll find out today beginning at 4:25 p.m. ET. Watch the game live on Fox, and keep it here for live updates, scores and more throughout the game.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
