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The Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders play today. Here are four matchups to watch during the game.
Khalil Mack vs. Jared Veldheer
The rookie Mack has yet to record a sack, but he is the has generated the most pressure on the Oakland defense, according to Pro Football Focus. Veldheer has allowed one sack and given up 12 other pressures in five games. Mack has created 14 pressures.
Andre Ellington vs. Oakland rush defense
Oakland is the league's second-worst run defending team. They allow nearly 150 yards a game. The Cardinals don't run the ball that much or that well, averaging less than 86 yards per game. Ellngton is averaging only 3.8 yards per carry this season after averaging over five and a half in his rookie season. Can he break out with a big run or two?
Will we see any of Marion Grice, who has yet to be active, but got first team reps in practice this week?
Alex Okafor vs. Khalif Barnes/Menelik Watson
Okafor made his first NFL start last week and was very good against Washington RT Tyler Polumbus, who is not very good. Oakland's offensive line has protected their quarterbacks very well. Can he generate the same pressure he did last week? He had two sacks a week ago. The combination of Barnes/Watson (as we don't know yet if Barnes will play) has given up one sack and 11 other pressures.
Derek Carr vs. Arizona blitz
Arizona blitzes opposing quarterbacks over 40 percent of the time. Rookie QB Derek Carr is getting blitzed over 38 percent of the time. He is bad against the blitz, too. He has completed only 45 percent of his passes and has a QB rating of 57.6 when blitzed. We will probably see a healthy dose of that from Todd Bowles' defense.