If the Oakland Raiders win at Green Bay, it’s time to take them seriously

The Oakland Raiders have been identified by many as a sleeper team. If they can beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, it’s time to take them seriously.

Through the first six weeks of the regular season, many teams are stuck between contender and pretender status. The Oakland Raiders fit that bill.

Jon Gruden’s squad is currently 3-2 and coming off a bye week. It’s hard to get a legitimate read on the team, though, as it has wins over the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. With blowout losses coming at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, which version of the Raiders is the real one? That question should be answered this Sunday.

The Raiders travel to Wisconsin and are set to square off against the 5-1 Green Bay Packers at historic Lambeau Field. This is a tall task to face, but having an extra week to prepare will only play in Oakland’s favor. With that being said, Gruden and company will have to bring their A-game if they want to pull off an epic upset.

First and foremost, rookie running back Josh Jacobs will have to continue his torrid start. Through five games, the former Alabama standout has rushed for 430 yards and four touchdowns on a great 4.9 yards per carry. He’s currently battling an elbow injury but will still shoulder the load as the fuel that makes Oakland’s offense run.

Quarterback Derek Carr will also have to play efficient football in order to walk away victorious. The 28-year-old has completed a league-leading 73.3 percent of his passes, making the most of his opportunities when dropping back. Although six touchdowns in five games and 6.9 yards per attempt are less-than-ideal numbers, Carr has limited sacks and turnovers. That goes a long way towards winning football games.

Playing well against two-time MVP Aaron Rodgers and the rest of a loaded Packers team is easier said than done. Luckily for Oakland, it stands a decent chance of limiting the running back tandem of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Football Outsiders has the Raiders pegged as the sixth-best team in the NFL when it comes to DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) against the run.

Containing Rodgers is another story. Oakland ranks 26th in passing DVOA despite allowing just 263.6 passing yards per game. At the end of the day, if defensive coordinator Paul Guenther can slow Rodgers down just a little bit, the Raiders will have a chance to win.

With matchups against the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions on deck, things aren’t going to get much easier for the Oakland Raiders. On the other hand, a win over Green Bay would make one thing clear: It’s time to take Oakland seriously as playoff contenders.