By Mark Schlereth
Special to ESPN.com
The Raiders have an opportunity to win this game because Jon Gruden committed to the running game several weeks ago. Doing so was a double-edged sword. It can take a few weeks for the running unit -- especially the offensive line -- to all get on the same page. The Raiders hadn't run effectively throughout the season, and their running techniques had become rusty after they spent so much time on the passing game.
But when Gruden commits his team to something, he doesn't back down, and it has been tremendously successful for the Raiders. Even though they lost their last three games of the regular season, the run game started to show much-needed improvement. Finally in the playoff game against the Jets, the Raiders' new commitment to running the ball was essential to their success.
Gruden's style is to never back down -- he made his team work on their running skills in practice, and it paid off. The Raiders' offense has become more complete as a result, and their team has become more ready to win.
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By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
With his defensive personnel, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has the ability to create a greater change-up than Jon Gruden can with his Raiders' offense.
Gruden isn't going to come out and get vertical with his attack because he doesn't have the personnel. Meanwhile, Belichick will use a 4-3 front and a 3-4 front and run them both effectively. The Patriots can bring pressure from both fronts and give the Raiders problems in terms of preparation. The Raiders, who run a lot of plays, will need ample time to study looks for one play because they will have to handle both defensive fronts and the coverages that come from them.
Belichick will also use some kind of new wrinkle. I have seen him play with five defensive linemen, rush three and drop eight into coverage, play two down linemen and make other personnel changes to confuse an offense. That places an added burden on the Raiders, who need to adjust to something they haven't seen during the game.
While the Patriots will have to focus on stopping the Raiders' running game, I expect Belichick to expose the Raiders' limitations and to do something to attack Rich Gannon and the Raiders' style of passing. He could drop nine into short zone coverages, as Denver did. Like he did against Peyton Manning, Belichick will find ways to disrupt Gannon.
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