NFL Odds: Oakland Raiders Favored Over Miami Dolphins This Week

Each at 5-5 entering Sunday’s contest, the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders need to make a move in order to make a postseason run.

A division title doesn’t look likely for Miami with the way the Jets and Patriots have been rattling off wins, but the Dolphins still have a shot to grab one of the AFC’s wild card slots.

Oakland is still very much in the mix for an AFC West title. It currently sits just one game behind division leader Kansas City and is 3-0 in division play this season.

It should very interesting to see how this contest plays out. After all, Miami has been at its best on the road and Oakland has played its best football at home. The Dolphins are 4-1 in road games while the Raiders are 4-1 on their home turf.

If recent history is any indication, the edge goes to Miami, which has won seven of eight against the Raiders, including the last four in Oakland. However, NFL oddsmakers have listed the Raiders as a three point favorite with the total set at 38.5.

Miami is hurting at quarterback after Chad Henne and Chad Pennington both endured injuries in a Week 10 win over Tennessee. With Henne nursing a knee injury and Pennington lost for the season with a shoulder injury, third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen may get the call again.

He would just as soon forget his Week 11 start against the Bears, during which he was sacked six times and intercepted once in a 16-0 defeat. If Thigpen is going to be the guy down the stretch, he must show some major improvement.

Including his starts with Kansas City, Thigpen is just 1-11 as a starter. It is worth noting, however, that his lone NFL win came against the Raiders nearly two years ago to the day.

Thigpen is going to need some help from Miami’s once-solid running attack. The normally reliable running back duo of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams has been held to 66.7 rushing ...

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