2014 Jets Opponents: Oakland Raiders

Before last season, 10 of our 12 most recent games vs. Oakland were played on the road. That recent home-away disparity is beginning to even out though, as we will host the Raiders at MetLife Stadium for the second consecutive season in 2014.

WR Jeremy Kerley has led our team in both receptions and receiving yards for each of the past two seasons. Against the Raiders, he scored one of our three offensive touchdowns when he leaped up and caught the football before any defender could get a hand on it.

RB Chris Ivory scored from 15 yards out thanks to five broken tackles in what was voted by both the fans and newyorkjets.com staff as the 2013 season's second-half best play. He and Bilal Powell will team up once again next year as a two-headed Green & White ground monster.

Head coach Rex Ryan's record vs. the Raiders is currently 2-1, including a 38-0 road win in 2009 and last year's 37-27 victory at home.

QB Geno Smith ran for a touchdown vs. Oakland last season, therefore we won the game. OK, so that's false logic, but we did go 6-0 in games where he scored a rushing TD. Smith will look to cut down on the mistakes with his arm while continuing to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him with his legs going forward.

The Raiders were down to their fourth-string RB in Marcel Reese and facing a Jets defense ranked first in yards allowed per rush. On paper, they weren't going to do much of anything on the ground. This photo taken during Reese's 63-yard touchdown run, however, reminds us that sometimes it's best just to crumple up that piece of paper and play the game.

One way or another, Tony Sparano will win when the Jets face the Raiders next season. Our former offensive coordinator is currently the assistant head coach/offensive line coach of the Oakland Raiders, while his son, Tony Sparano Jr., was recently promoted to offensive assistant of the Jets.

Set to begin his third year in the league, Josh Bush (No. 32) could see increased playing time next season. As reported last week on newyorkjets.com, he'll be spending part of his offseason in Atlanta learning from one of the best to ever play the safety position, Ed Reed.

Last February, LB Calvin Pace was released as the Jets attempted to create salary cap space. This February, the 11-year veteran is coming off of his only double-digit sack season of his career. As an impending free agent, the Jets will either have to bring Pace back or somehow find a way to replace his productive pass-rushing ability.

CB Dee Milliner struggled for much of the season before emerging as the Defensive Rookie of the Month in December. If he can live up to his first-round potential next season and beyond, the sky will be the limit for this Jets defense.