It was another week and another road win for the Oakland Raiders.
They improved to 6-2 after Sunday’s win in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oakland has won five consecutive road games in a season for the first time since 1986.
The impressive streak of road wins has helped the Raiders vault five spots in this week’s ESPN NFL power rankings, from No. 11 to No. 6. It’s their first appearance in the top six of the power rankings since Week 1 of 2003, the year after their last Super Bowl appearance.
And while much of the credit for their success has gone to quarterback Derek Carr, his wide receivers have arguably been asked to do more than any other wide receiver corps in the NFL this season.
The Raiders’ wide receivers are the only ones who rank in the top five in the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and yards after contact.
Tough to tackle
One of the things Raiders wide receivers do best is pick up yards after contact. For evidence of that, look no further than the 41-yard game-winning touchdown Sunday against the Bucs. Carr threw 12 yards over the middle to Seth Roberts, who was nearly sandwiched by two defenders before picking up 27 yards after contact on his way to the end zone.
Roberts has the most recent highlight-reel catch, but Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have been the Raiders’ most consistent tackle-breakers this season. Crabtree ranks fourth among wide receivers with 94 yards after contact on receptions. Cooper ranks sixth on that list with 82 yards.
Crabtree’s five receptions with at least 5 yards after contact ranks tied for second among wide receivers behind Jarvis Landry (nine).
The Raiders’ 244 yards after contact by wide receivers is the most by a team halfway through a season since the New England Patriots had 289 yards in 2009. That Patriots receiving corps was led by Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
Touchdown machines
Wideouts on the Raiders have combined to haul in 14 of Carr’s 17 passing touchdowns on the season. Only the Green Bay Packers have more touchdown receptions by wide receivers this season (16).
Crabtree has been Carr’s go-to target on throws into the end zone. The seventh-year wide receiver has hauled in six of his nine end zone targets on the year, and Carr has 10 touchdowns with no interceptions on such throws.
Carr connected with Crabtree on all three passes thrown to the wide receiver in the end zone in a Week 4 win over the Baltimore Ravens. Only four wide receivers have more than three touchdowns on end zone targets all season, and Crabtree’s six this season are tied with Jordy Nelson for the league lead.
Looking ahead
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) isn’t quite as high on the Raiders as the power panel. FPI has Oakland ranked 16th as of Nov. 1.
The lower ranking in FPI has little to do with Carr, Cooper and Crabtree. Oakland's offense ranks eighth in efficiency. Their defense ranks 27th.
The Raiders are the FPI favorites in three games during their upcoming four-game homestand. Their game Sunday against the Denver Broncos is nearly a coin flip in FPI’s projections, with the Broncos being the slight favorite.
Three of their last four games are on the road against divisional opponents. FPI gives the Raiders a 3 percent chance to win all three of those divisional road games.