Jets vs Raiders: Top 5 players to watch

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) congratulates wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) after Cooper made a second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 8 we have a huge physical showdown in the Jets vs Raiders game live from The Black Hole in an intriguing AFC match-up

The NY Jets (4-2) are coming off a tough loss to their division rival the New England Patriots (7-0) while the Oakland Raiders are coming off a momentous victory over their rivals, the San Diego Chargers (2-5).

The Jets are facing back-to-back road games for the first and last time of the season and will try to turn things around. These don’t seem like the Raiders over the last decade, they’ve actually got a lot of talent.

So with that being said, let’s delve into this tasty match-up and discover who the top 5 players to watch in this game will be.

Next: 5. One of the top rookies playing today

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) catches a pass while defended by San Diego Chargers defensive back Jimmy Wilson (27) during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

5. Amari Cooper

I mean what more can you say? The Raiders seemed to have hit a home-run with their first round draft selection this season by selecting a perennial Rookie of the Year in Amari Cooper. The Alabama Crimson Tide are an NFL factory of talent, year-in and year-out producing first round talent, especially at the wide receiver position.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Julio Jones, legitimately one of if not the best receiver in the NFL, who is currently taking the league by storm. So he’s coming from a good family tree that is certain, so what has he done this season?

Amari Cooper’s 2015 Stats Games: 6 Receptions: 33 Yards: 519 YPC: 15.7 TDs: 3 YPG: 86.5 YAC: 243 #Raiders pic.twitter.com/0ZfmG874pp

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) October 26, 2015

Absolutely incredible numbers, so why do I have him ranked #5 on this list? The rookie is about to get a wake up call by facing arguably the top corner in the league in Darrelle Revis. It’s going to be a great match-up, a battle of the ages as it were. I’m really excited to see this match-up and see whether Cooper can get the best of Revis on a couple plays or will Revis shut him down like everyone expects. Derek Carr is going to need Cooper to make plays in the passing game to have a chance to upset the Jets in this one.

Next: 4. The Golden Boy

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after throwing touchdown pass in the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

4. Derek Carr

Carr was severely underrated coming out of Fresno State, the reason for that? His brother’s legacy, his brother’s history and the other quarterbacks in the class who reportedly were on a different playing field. Well, I think those analysts and pundits have some explaining to do, because the Raiders just might have found their franchise quarterback with a 2nd round pick steal out of the 2014 NFL Draft. I mean, the Raiders have an intriguing young core that could put the Raiders on the map for the next decade. But let’s talk about this season, before we get too ahead of ourselves here. There’s no question about it, Carr has been playing at an elite level so far this season, I see no sophomore slump.

#KurtsTop5 QBs for WK7: 5. @teddyb_h2o 4. @ryantannehill1 3. @KirkCousins8 2. @derekcarrqb 1. Tom Brady pic.twitter.com/eVjSdq87Q5 — NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 28, 2015

Carr is making waves across the NFL and for the Jets they’ve got to try and confuse the young quarterback with a myriad of coverage and blitz packages. Because let’s be honest, the Jets just gave up 350+ yards and multiple touchdown passes to Tom Brady. Carr isn’t Brady, but his 11 touchdown to 3 interception ratio and over 1,400 yards with a 100+ QBR is shooting his stock up. The Raiders need a big day from their quarterback against this vaunted Jets’ defense, easier said then done I’m afraid.

Next: 3. Beware another top rusher

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back

Latavius Murray

(28) runs the ball during the first half in the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

3. Latavius Murray

So we’ve talked about the Raiders’ dynamic duo, but this team has a similar Dallas Cowboys triplets reincarnation on their hands with Carr, Cooper, and now Latavius Murray. If you can’t tell, I’m in love with the talent on this team. Over the last several years the Raiders have finally seemed to figure it out from smart drafting and seeing it pay off to finding diamonds in the rough and letting those players develop. Murray was a 6th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft which makes him a diamond in the rough.

Murray is one of the top rushers in the NFL so far and we’re almost at the halfway mark of the season. He faces a stiff test against the Jets and their No. 1 ranked rush defense in terms of yards per game, average yards per attempt, and are tied for first place in allowing the fewest amount of rushing touchdowns this season. It’s not going to be easy, but if the Raiders are forced to be a one-dimensional football team, the Jets’ defense could feast on Carr.

Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Latavius Murray, Clive Walford. This Raiders team has some good, young offensive weapons.

— Jimmy Durkin (@Jimmy_Durkin) October 25, 2015

Yes, they do have a lot of offensive talent, I think this’ll be a relatively close ball game if the Raiders can sneak some big runs in and do some different things in the passing game. They have to mix it up with screen plays and an intermediate passing game, plus Murray will have to be stout in his pass-protection because the Jets love sending extra guys at the quarterback and have been very effective doing that all season.

Next: 2. A Jet looking for redemption

Oct 18, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates with wide receiver Eric Decker (87) after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

2. Brandon Marshall

Well I use the term “redemption” very lightly, he’s made more good plays than bad plays through his short time with the Jets so far. Even last week in the Patriots game, he recovered the onside kick that even gave the Jets a slim chance to tie up the game and send it to overtime. But that drop in the end-zone will be a nightmare for Marshall and Jets fans who will forever ponder the what if scenarios. Marshall finished the game last week with respectable numbers: 4 catches for 67 yards, but the Jets need him to get back on the 100+ yard streak he was on prior to the Patriots game.

He’s been dominant all season in a variety of ways: high-pointing the ball being a red-zone weapon, powering through with impressive yards after the catch that Marshall’s been synonymous for throughout his career and of course being able to make a play when the Jets need him to. Even when he isn’t getting the stats in the game, he’s still just as important.

For example, being the #1 target on the Jets, he warranted double-team coverage from the Patriots all game long which opened the door for his partner in crime, Eric Decker to have a great game facing one-on-one coverage for the majority of the game.

If the Raiders try to take Marshall out, expect Decker to have a big day, but I think this is the kind of bounce back game where we could see Marshall dominate. Especially considering the Raiders are ranked in the bottom half of the league in pass defense, 22nd to be exact according to ESPN Stats and Information. Which means the hopes and dreams of the Raiders lay on the shoulders of D.J. Hayden. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Hayden has allowed the second most catches of any corner, he has allowed the most YAC, quarterbacks have completed over 71-percent of their passes against him, and have a QB Rating of 104.0 when throwing on him. Uhm… good luck with that, regardless of who Hayden ends up covering in the game it seems like he may be a bit over his head

Next: 1. Watch out for the bearded wonder

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) scrambles against the New England Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick

The #1 player to watch out for in this one is none other than the bearded wonder: Ryan Fitzpatrick aka ‘Fitz-Magic’. Last week, the Jets saw some of that magic where we saw him avoid an interception for the first time this season. Though he coughed up the ball on a strip-sack early in the game, he has been playing above-average for the Jets.

#Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick is fourth in the NFL in QBR according to ESPN. Behind only Andy Dalton, Aaron Rodgers and Carson Palmer. #nyjets #nyj — Kristian Dyer (@KristianRDyer) October 27, 2015

I know stats aren’t everything in the NFL, but with that being said, Jets fans have to be happy with what they’ve seen so far with Fitzpatrick at the helm. He’s brought a calming presence to the quarterback position. He doesn’t get too high or too low, which has been an unknown stability that the Jets haven’t seen in some time.

Next: The impact Geno Smith has for the future of franchise

Avoid turnovers, that is the key for Fitzpatrick if he can do that and get the Jets’ offense going, Gang Green should win the game. Again, the Jets are coming off a tough road game in New England, so it’s imperative for the Jets to start fast in this one. The Jets have gotten away with it when they do start slow for the majority of the time, but they can’t expect to come out flat every week and just turn it on, they need a fast start to set the tempo for the game and try to keep the crowd out of it.