Carson Palmer has been picked up by the Oakland Raiders to replace an injured Jason Campbell, but will he start and how will this effect the odds?. Read our full game breakdown to help you decide where to lay your money.
The big news shaking the NFL world this week is
the return of former Bengal signal caller Carson Palmer to the gridiron dressed
in silver and black. The Raiders history
of reclamation projects remains intact but will Palmer be the man when they
play the Chiefs in week 7?
Raiders (4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS)
The question is who will be
calling signals under center when the Raiders trot out on offense in Week
7? Kyle Boller was serviceable when he
replaced an injured Jason Campbell (who is expected to be out several weeks)
but obviously not inspiring enough for Raiders management to sit tight.
So the Raiders do what the Raiders always do
and that is mortgage the future for a big time player who may very well be past
his prime. The Raiders handed the
Bengals a first round pick in 2012 as well as a conditional 1st or 2nd
rounder in 2013. We must wait and see if this was a smart or extremely bad move by the Raiders.
Though we don’t know, at
the time of this writing, who the quarterback will be, we do know that whomever
is pulling the trigger will not be the focus of the Oakland’s game plan. Boller may be a legitimate back-up but not a
leading man while Palmer is not only a year removed from the game but has no
familiarity with the Raiders personnel. No, the point of attack will rest on the broad shoulders of Darren
McFadden who has sparkled this year for the Raiders.
Kansas City checks in with the 21st
ranked run defense allowing 119.6 rushing yards per game but they have managed
to contain their last two opponents on the ground. They limited Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson to
80 rushing yards and only 3.5 yards per carry while they shutdown
Indianapolis’s ground attack, allowing a total of 78 yards.
Oakland’s defense will give
Cassel plenty to think about as they have accumulated 16 sacks thus far (tied
for 8th) but all those blitz packages leave room for receptions and
passing yards. Oakland ranks 28th
against the pass and Cassel will attempt to exploit those coverage lapses.
Chiefs (2-3 SU, 3-2 ATS)
The emergence of Jackie
Battle coupled with the explosiveness of Dexter McCluster has erased the bitter
memory of Jammal Charles season ending injury. Kansas City ranks 6th on the ground but a dismal 29th
through the air, however Matt Cassel has struggled through a rib injury that
appears to be healing because his performance is improving. Dwayne Bowe has found the endzone four times
in the last three games and is proving he is a big time wide-out. Cassel will need to find the talented
receiver while he’s scrambling from a swarming Raiders defense.
Kansas City ranks almost
last in sacks which will bode well for either Boller or Palmer. Neither of these quarterbacks will be ready
to meet a stout rush but it appears the Chiefs won’t pose that particular
danger. The Chiefs are rebounding from a
disastrous start by winning their last two games and covering the number at the
same time. But before we get too carried
away, don’t forget that they beat two of the worst teams in Minny and
Indy.
Analysis:
We have to view the Raiders quarterback situation as marginal at
best. Carson Palmer is not going to
return to his past glory overnight and Kyle Boller is simply warming the chair
for a better option even if he does get the nod. But I don’t believe the Chiefs can muster
enough pressure to shake up the Raiders passing game.
We know Oakland won’t be launching
devastating air strikes but the important thing is that I don’t feel the
Raiders coaching staff will give either QB the keys to the car, thereby
diminishing the potential for interceptions. The key to victory for the Raiders is to limit their mistakes and let
McFadden tear holes through the KC defense.
NFL odds favored the Raiders by -3.5 at the opening but early action has pushed the line to -5 at most NFL betting shops.
Whether it be Boller or Palmer, it’s all about McFadden and a sack happy
Oakland defense that can create turnovers and put the Raiders in healthy field
position throughout. Raiders -4 is the play.