Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports`
Dennis Allen says Terrelle Pryor gets the nod to start Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.
Pryor’s return to the Oakland Raiders starting line-up Sunday is great news to a franchise looking to be rejuvenated. The dismal play last week of journeyman Matt Flynn has proven that Pryor is Oakland’s only hope.
The Raiders have shown some signs of great football when a healthy Pryor is under center and hope to continue the large improvement their offense has shown glimpses of with his return.
A healthy Darren McFadden returning to the mix would take a large load off of Pryor. The Raiders were the top-ranked rushing team in the league through the first two weeks with an electric Pryor and hard-running McFadden.
Defenses respect teams that can run the football effectively and will make room for Oakland’s young and athletic receiving corps to get chances to get open over San Diego’s secondary. Third-year receiver Denarius Moore has shown he can get it done after the catch having 15 catches for 233 yards, 74 of them after the catch, while second-year undrafted Rod Streater catches almost everything throw his way.
The Raiders defense, on the other hand, needs to improve their play in order to slow a hot San Diego offense lead by Philip Rivers. They’re 26th in the league defending the pass allowing 200.5 yards per game and haven’t had a single interception.
Oakland better hope they can control the ball on the ground and keep Rivers off of the field in order to win this one, because I wouldn’t count on their defense.
