Lions vs. Raiders Week 9 Scouting Report: Jon Gruden’s inconsistent group

The Detroit Lions make their final trip to the East Bay as they close out the first half of 2019 against the Oakland Raiders. Can they stay afloat in the rugged NFC?

Wow, we’re at the halfway point already? Just like that, the Detroit Lions have reached game number eight, with every week representing an opportunity to remain relevant in a crowded NFC playoff race. That pursuit continues this Sunday, as they make their final trip to RingCentral Coliseum to face the Oakland Raiders before the Raiders move to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.

The Raiders’ most recognizable member doesn’t even wear pads, as iconic head coach-turned-broadcaster-turned head coach Jon Gruden is in the midst of a thorough rebuilding project in his second stint with the organization.

After a rough 4-12 “debut” season in 2018, the Raiders are still searching for sustained momentum in 2019 under Gruden. They have sandwiched four losses around two straight wins over the last six weeks.

The Lions are coming off of a much-needed home victory over the New York Giants, as quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Lions’ passing attack continue to give opponents fits. Stafford had one of the best performances of his career in his last trip to Oakland eight years ago, and another marquee outing from him would go a long way towards helping the Lions notch their second road victory of the season.

So what do the Lions need to do to climb above .500 and keep the heat on the rest of the NFC’s top teams? Here, and each week, we’ll scout each team’s offense, defense, and special teams units, how they match up against each other and offer two players to watch from each squad.