Not exactly.
The only hope the Raiders have to stay in this game is to run the ball effectively. For a team that's been among the league leaders in doing just that over the last couple years, 2012 hasn't seen the same results.
Oakland is currently 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and dead last in yards per carry. Darren McFadden has 54 yards on 26 carries with zero touchdowns.
No QB is going to be as successful as he'd like to be when he has that much pressure on his shoulders. Palmer knows McFadden is their best player on offense. He's had to have gotten discouraged by his underwhelming performances through the first two weeks.
Even if Oakland can take advantage of the Steelers' injuries on the ground, that's still not a guarantee that Palmer will light it up through the air.
The Raiders wide receiver corps is mediocre at best, and Palmer hasn't exactly looked like the guy who made two straight Pro Bowls as a Cincinnati Bengal. In 11 starts since joining Oakland midway through last season, he's thrown 15 TDs and 17 INTs.
Combine that with the number the Steelers D did on the Jets last week, and things look bleak for the Raiders on offense.
The Jets were coming off a 48-point explosion versus Buffalo in Week 1, and they looked to continue that success at Heinz Field. However, Pittsburgh's defense limited New York to only 219 total yards and went on to an easy, 27-10 victory.
This matchup doesn't favor Oakland no matter how you analyze it or who's missing from the Steelers defense.&nb...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
