<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Can the Raiders keep Joe Flacco, Steve Smith off balance?

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterSep 28, 2016, 07:00 AM ET
            Close
              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
            Follow on X

          ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders are 2-0 on the road for the first time since 2002, which is also the last time they went to the playoffs and had a winning record. Beat the Baltimore Ravens this weekend in Maryland and Oakland is 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2000, when the Raiders went 12-4 and lost the AFC title game -- at home -- to, you guessed it, the Ravens.

          Of course, the rosters have been overhauled with only Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who was then a rookie, still active from that day. Even the Ravens look a tad different from last season’s game in Oakland, a 37-33 Raiders last-minute win.

          So who to keep an eye on as the Raiders (2-1) travel at least two time zones for the third time in four weeks to face the Ravens (3-0)? Here is Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley with a scouting report on three players to watch on each side of the ball ...

          OFFENSE

          QB Joe Flacco: He continues to be one of the most streakiest quarterbacks in the NFL. On Sunday, Flacco was one shy of the NFL single-game record for consecutive completions in a game with 21. Outside of that streak, he was 8-of-19 passing with two interceptions.

          WR Steve Smith Sr.: The NFL's oldest receiver is showing that he still has something left. After his slowest two-game start in 13 years, Smith looked determined and explosive last Sunday. He finished with eight catches for 87 yards, which were four more yards than his first two games combined.

          RB Terrance West: He's listed as the backup to Justin Forsett, but he has been the better back so far this season. West has led the Ravens in rushing the last two games, and he's running with more power than Forsett. But West is only averaging 3.6 yards per carry as Baltimore struggles to get the running game going.

          DEFENSE

          LB C.J. Mosley: He is looking like a playmaker again after an uneven 2015 season. In three games this season, Mosley matched his interception total in his first two seasons. He sealed a Week 2 victory with an interception at the Ravens' 1-yard line and he made a one-handed interception last Sunday.

          S Eric Weddle: His leadership in the secondary is a major reason why the Ravens are the No. 3 pass defense in the NFL. Weddle has been a force when playing inside the box (third-leading tackler), but he has shown great anticipation in breaking up passes. The ex-Charger should have plenty of familiarity with the Raiders.

          LB Terrell Suggs: The Ravens say Suggs is in the best shape of his career, and he certainly showed that with two fourth-quarter sacks in the heat of Jacksonville. Suggs had been relatively quiet in his return from last year's season-ending Achilles injury. But he ranks fifth in the NFL with three sacks.