Week 17: Potential Match-Ups for the Raiders Offense

The Las Vegas Raiders offense will host the No. 1 defense in the NFL this Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

The Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) have a tough slate this weekend as they host the No. 1 defense in the league, the San Francisco 49ers (11-4), on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

The Raiders, whose playoff chances are still alive mathematically, know it’s going to take more than a miracle for it to happen, but if they do, here are a few things the offense will need to do to win this game.

Limit the Defensive Player of the Year Frontrunner

The Raiders offensive line will have to find a way to limit the 49ers' best defensive player, end Nick Bosa, who is being considered as the front-runner of this year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Bosa is a major contributor to a defense that is ranked first in the league in total yards allowed (4,355 yards). He leads the league in sacks (17.5) and has recorded at least one sack in 12 of the 14 games this season.

Most of the defense's success has come in stopping the run, where the 49ers also are ranked first, allowing an average of only 3.3 yards a carry.

“They're fundamentally sound, they play fast, they play hard. Their effort is one of the best in the league and I think it shows up in situational football. They’re tops in the league in almost every category,” Raiders offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi said on Tuesday.

Ball Hawks on the Field

Safety Talanoa Hufanga might have given up two touchdown receptions last week but defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans probably will not allow that to happen again.

Ryans' defensive scheme has put his players in position to excel across the field, and another area where the Raiders need to be extra careful this Sunday is the turnover battle.

The Niners rank fourth in takeaways with 24, including 15 pass interceptions and two pick sixes.

With that in mind, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has thrown nine interceptions in the last five games and leads the league in interceptions with 14.

Carr's future with the Raiders is being questioned, and so this weekend can determine if the Raiders will ride it out with Carr or give someone else a chance.

Whichever decision the coaching staff makes, the Raiders are going against a defense that loves to play aggressive and cause turnovers.

The 49ers have clinched the NFC West title and a spot in the playoffs, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting their eighth victory win in a row and looking at nine in a row.

The Raiders will face the 49ers on Sunday, New Year's Day, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

That game kicks off at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST and can be seen on FOX.

Watch the Silver and Black live when you get your Raiders tickets from SI Tickets HERE.

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