Rich Gannon has been a perfect fit for the Raiders offense.

The Raiders and the Seahawks have an opportunity to make some inroads Sunday night. What strikes me most about the game is that both coaches, Oakland's Jon Gruden and Seattle's Mike Holmgren, are purists when it comes to the West Coast offense. They run it exactly the same way.

Both defenses have seen this offense all year. They see it in training camp and during practice. So, this will become a game of minor nuisances and execution. Because the offenses are so similar, the defenses won't be fooled. It's going to be a question of players winning one-on-one matches and the quarterbacks being able to deliver the ball to the receivers.

Now, if either Gruden or Holmgren decides to alter the pass patterns a bit, the change could lead to some big plays. This should be a game for throwing purists. I don't see either team rushing for a lot of yards. The running game will be crucial to both teams' success, but only in the red zone or third and short.

Here are the keys to Sunday night's game for each club:

Oakland Raiders
1. Protect Rich Gannon: Gannon must have a chance to make plays, either by throwing or using his scrambling ability. Last week, he had five rushes for 47 yards. He has the ability pick up big first downs. He's the best quarterback Oakland has had in a long time and fits well as an agile quarterback in the West Coast system.

The Raiders are no longer a vertical passing team. Now, they throw the ball down the field six or seven yards and get yards after the catch. Gannon will need time to get the ball to Tim Brown and James Jett on short crossing patterns that could be turned into 40-yard gains.

2. Tyrone Wheatley: After a disappointing start to his career in New York and Miami, Wheatley seems to have found himself in Oakland. He has been a very important part of their two victories. A key for Oakland is being able to run the ball effectively, which means getting into short-yardage situations, like third-and-5 or less. I call those convertible third downs. The Raiders can't afford to line up in second- or third-and-long, and it all begins with Wheatley getting the Raiders some breathing room.

3. No missed tackles: Tackling will be key for the Raiders defense. The Seahawks receivers will make catches, and in the West Coast offense, there should be a completion rate of more than 60 percent. So the Raiders will need to make sure that the Seattle receivers are tackled immediately after catching the ball, limiting their ability to break away for long gains.

The Oakland defense, under coordinator Willie Shaw, has been put together in a near-perfect form -- quick ends in James Harris and Lance Johnstone, big tackles in Darrell Russell and Russell Maryland, a veteran in Eric Allen on one corner and a sensational second-year player in Charles Woodson on the other, two quality safeties in Eric Turner and Anthony Newman, and a mostly veteran linebacking crew. The defense doesn't miss many tackles, but tackling will carry even more importance against the Seahawks.

Seattle Seahawks
1. Confidence: Seattle must stay confident. If Oakland's defense can get on top of the Seahawks early, it doesn't serve Seattle's confidence well. Quarterback Jon Kitna is new to the West Coast system, so I would give the Raiders more of an edge in terms of experience in the system. But Kitna and the Seahawks need to throw more than they have, and they must do it effectively early in the game to feel good about themselves.

Last week, Ricky Watters gained 98 yards on 29 carries. That's too many carries. I don't believe the Seahawks will be able to run against Oakland's defense. Instead, they have to generate more offense from the passing game and run as a change of pace. I would expect Watters to get about seven or eight fewer carries than he did a week ago, and instead catch a few more balls out of the backfield.

2. Pressure up the middle: Historically, the key to slowing down the West Coast offense is getting pressure up the middle on the quarterback. The Seahawks defensive line must get a push up the middle to flush Gannon outside the pocket. They don't want Gannon stepping up inside, with the ends playing contain on the outside. I think Gannon is more dangerous when he steps up and is able to move forward.

The Seahawks have Cortez Kennedy and Sam Adams in the middle, two players who can penetrate and get pressure on Gannon.

3. Special teams: In a game between two teams that appear very similar in terms of offense and defense, special teams can make a big difference. And if you're looking for something to tip the scales in Seattle's favor, it's special teams. The Seahawks got a big special-teams touchdown last week from Charlie Rogers on a 94-yard punt return. A similar lift from their special teams might be what the Seahawks need to overcome the Raiders.

Former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann works as a game analyst for ESPN's Sunday Night Football. He breaks down the Sunday night matchup every week for ESPN.com.