Handing the Arizona Cardinals their second win of the season was a miserable way to end the weekend, and my voice is still trying to regain its normal tone. I try to find something positive to build on from every game and this week, it wasn't hard.
The Raiders defense is currently ranked second in the NFL in yards allowed per game. That's right, I said second. We are still giving up too many points, but this is partially attributed to poor special teams play. Bad kick and punt team coverage and missed field goals have given our opponents excellent starting field position.
The defense has improved from dead last against the run to 24th in yards per game allowed. Take away one big run by Chris Johnson and we have improved by leaps and bounds.
The Raiders rank second in the league in passing defense and have enjoyed solid play from sixth-year player and first-time starter Stanford Routt. Nnamdi Asomugha also made a strong statement to the quick-to-forget fans on Revis Island that he still is the best corner in the league.
If you don't want to take my word for it, try asking Larry Fitzgerald whose only highlight of the game came when he wasn't being covered by Asomugha and settled into a hole in the zone that conveniently wasn’t Nnamdi's responsibility.
Rolando McClain is showing steady improvement, making quicker reads and allowing his instincts to take over. He looks worthy of being a first-round pick, which is a breath of fresh air for Raiders fans,
Speaking of first-round picks, how about Darren McFadden making a push to lead the NFL in rushing? McFadden is currently r...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
