SmashMouth

WHEN: 3:05 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, Calif.

TV/RAD IO: Fox/WTGE-FM, 100.7, WWL-AM, 870, 105.3-FM.

RECORDS: Raiders, 3-6; Saints, 4-5.

LAST WEEK: Raiders lost to the Baltimore Ravens 55-20; Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons 31-27.

COACHES: Raiders, Dennis Allen, 1st season (3-6); Saints, Joe Vitt, 2nd season (6-8).

NFL RANKINGS

Offense (league rank in parentheses)

Points: Raiders, 21.2 (20); Saints, 27.7 (6).

Total yards: Raiders, 315.6 (t12); Saints, 392.3 (4).

Rushing: Raiders, 76.7 (31); Saints, 88.4 (28).

Passing: Raiders, 288.9 (5); Saints, 303.9 (2).

Defense (league rank in parentheses)

Points: Raiders, 31.6 (31); Saints, 28.4 (t28).

Total yards: Raiders, 374.9 (23); Saints, 449.3 (32).

Rushing: Raiders, 119.0 (21); Saints, 162.0 (31).

Passing: Raiders, 255.9 (24); Saints, 307.3 (31)

KEY PLAYERS

Raiders: QB Carson Palmer, RB Darren McFadden, WR Denarius Moore, DT Richard Seymour, CB Michael Huff, K Sebastian Janikowski.

Saints: QB Drew Brees, RB Chris Ivory, TE Jimmy Graham, DE Will Smith, MLB Curtis Lofton, FS Malcolm Jenkins.

RAIDERS SCOUTING REPORT

Offense: The Raiders are tied for 12th in total yards (365.6 yards per game) and are fifth in passing yards (288.9). Carson Palmer is having a big season with 2,723 yards, 15 TDs and an 86.8 passer rating. Shifty running back Darren McFadden could miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.

Defense: The Raiders rank 23rd in total yards (374.9) and are 21st against the run (119.0) and 24th against the pass (255.9) and have allowed 97 points the past two games, although two of the TDs last week were on special teams. They rank 31st with only 11 sacks and have six interceptions in nine games.

Special teams: The Raiders have one of the top kicking tandems in Sebastian Janikowski, who’s 21-of-22 in field goals and is deadly from beyond 50 yards, while Shanle Lechler averages 48.7 yards a punt. Their kick coverage was shaky last week, allowing a 105-yard kickoff return.

RAIDERS FACTS

The Raiders have only one player with Louisiana ties — former Catholic High and Stanford running back Jeremy Stewart, who was signed off their practice squad Saturday. He had seven carries for 22 yards in his NFL debut against the Ravens. … Starting free safety Matt Giordano played for the Saints in 2010. … First-year coach Dennis Allen was a Saints’ assistant from 2006-10, serving as secondary coach in 2009-10. … The Raiders have been outscored 109-31 in the third quarter. … The teams have met 11 times with each winning five games with one tie. The draw came in their first meeting on Nov. 7, 1971 in old Tulane Stadium, 21-21.

Raiders Scouting Report | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

TheOak

McFadden playing is what has helped their passing game. If it is out, their passing game will not be as productive.

Shoe.

Palmer is certainly having a decent year compared to what he has turned in previously. If McFadden is out he'll be chucking that thing all day, so maybe we can get another pick

Rugby Saint II

I'm glad Allen got his shot as a head coach. He knows us well but doesn't know everything. Better luck next game.

UK_WhoDat

For me, these are keys:
[*]McFadden suited to play or not. McFadden playing means game on. He out and we can take our time to get into a winning groove
[*]Turnovers. We have to watch our fumbles, we have to look for interceptions
[*]Our average points per drive. Too many punts and Oakland gets the game on FGs.