Looking ahead to the end of the 2024 season, the Raiders’ goal is to “finish the right way”

Defensively, the Raiders have played their best football over this last stretch. They have had eight turnovers in their last four games, after totaling five in their first 12 games. In that span, they also had 12 sacks and allowed less than 17 points to opposing offenses.

“For me, it’s the little things,” defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. “Tyree (Wilson) with his base, he plays with a base more often. (Zach) Carter plays with the pad level, because he naturally cuts high, he plays with a lower pad level. Spill (Robert Spillane) has run things on the other side of at the line of scrimmage or at the line of scrimmage more than last year… Those little things that aren’t catchy or anything, that’s what I’m proud of, but prouder when happen. win because I want them to get the reward for all their hard work.

The defense has also generated a 47.5 percent pressure rate without Maxx Crosby on the field. The 2024 Pro Bowler has been out of action since Week 14 with an ankle injury that placed him on injured reserve. Edge rushers K’Lavon Chaisson and Tyree Wilson have stepped up in his absence and have combined for four sacks and six tackles for loss since that Week 14 outing.

“No one blinks, no matter what stage of the season we are in,” Wilson said. “No matter what our wins and losses are, everyone is going to come in with that mentality hungry to finish the right way and now they’re going to 2025 to start this year off right as a Raiders defense.”

The Silver and Black have a chance to win their third straight game this Sunday. The main objective remains the same: close the season on a high note against their divisional enemies.

“We all signed up for 17 games, an 18-week schedule,” Pierce said. “In my opinion, we’ve had a really good month, regardless of the record, just seeing the improvement, the things we talked about and now a great opportunity against a divisional foe that we know very well, which we saw in Week 1, to finish.”