In 2005, the Oakland Raiders promoted 2003 draft pick Nnamdi Asomugha to a full-time starter. He quickly developed into one of the league’s elite cover corners in Oakland’s man-coverage scheme.

From 2006-10, the Raiders ranked in the top 10 in passing defense each season, but Asomugha signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2011 season. Not surprisingly, the Raiders secondary has suffered in his absence. They are currently ranked 23rd in the league, allowing 244 yards through the air each week.

For Detroit, it’s unfair to call this Calvin Johnson’s breakout season. Perhaps it’s more apt to say he’s ascended to elite status with his 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns through 14 games this season.

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, it’s Johnson’s size that is the noticeable advantage, but it was his sub 4.4 40-yard speed that torched the Raiders for nine receptions, 214 and a pair of touchdowns. 

Johnson did a significant chunk of damage on two plays, amassing 99 yards on two deep balls over the middle.  In the first quarter, Johnson hauled in a perfectly placed pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford after running a fly route right past the two Oakland safeties. 

In the fourth quarter, with the Lions down six late, the wideout again got behind the last line of coverage. This time Stafford underthrew Johnson, but he was able to adjust, come back to the ball, and haul in the 48-yard pass at the Raiders 13-yard line. 

Appropriately, Johnson caught the game-winning touchdown four plays later when he blew past cornerback Stanford Routt on a post pattern from the slot. 

The Raiders made the mistake of trying to defend Johnson with a single-coverage most of the day, and he made them pay time and time again. Johnson obviously took advantage of his speed on deep routes, but was also able to use it to get a step on his man underneath the coverage and pick up big chunks of yardage after the catch.

Johnson picked up 24 yards on a simple jerk route in the second quarter when he feigned sitting down in coverage two yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but once Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain bit, Johnson accelerated across the middle into open space. He gained 22 yards after the catch.  

Despite the huge statistical performance for Johnson, there were three missed opportunities to pad the box score. 

First, Johnson dropped the first pass thrown in his direction, a 15-yard post pattern that was a touch behind him, but easily catchable.

Later in the first half, on a well designed crossing route that utilized 265-pound tight end Brandon Pettigrew as a moving screen, Johnson caught a short pass going across the middle of the field. Usually one man can’t bring Johnson down, but Routt made an impressive diving tackle. If he had been unable to wrap up, the next, and only remaining defender between Johnson and a 46-yard touchdown was 15-yards down the field. 

Finally, in the third quarter, the Lions lined up in a four-receiver set with two receivers bunched on either side of the line. From the inside position to the right side of the field, Johnson managed to get behind the entire Raiders defense just 18 yards down the field. But a corner blitz by Lito Sheppard forced Stafford to unload his pass a touch early.  The throw, which would have resulted in a 47-yard touchdown, sailed a yard beyond Johnson’s outstretched arms. 

Johnson didn’t need to rely on his size to his advantage against the Raiders. The Oakland cornerbacks rarely physically engaged the over-sized receiver at the line of scrimmage, and because the Raiders didn’t employ double and triple-coverage, the Lions weren’t pressed into throwing him jump balls. 

Because play selection is determined by situation, it’s crude math to project Johnson would have had “X” amount of yards or touchdowns if he and Stafford had capitalized on any of the particular plays the Raiders defense nearly surrendered.

Still, it’s amazing to know that even with a career-high in receiver yards, Johnson missed out on a few more big plays during the course of the game. It’s safe to say future opponents will use the tape from this game as a study guide on how not to defend Johnson. 

In 2005, the Oakland Raiders promoted 2003 draft pick Nnamdi Asomugha to a full-time starter. He quickly developed into one of the league’s elite cover corners in Oakland’s man-coverage scheme.

From 2006-10, the Raiders ranked in the top 10 in passing defense each season, but Asomugha signed with the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2011 season. Not surprisingly, the Raiders secondary has suffered in his absence. They are currently ranked 23rd in the league, allowing 244 yards through the air each week.

For Detroit, it’s unfair to call this Calvin Johnson’s breakout season. Perhaps it’s more apt to say he’s ascended to elite status with his 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns through 14 games this season.

At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, it’s Johnson’s size that is the noticeable advantage, but it was his sub 4.4 40-yard speed that torched the Raiders for nine receptions, 214 and a pair of touchdowns. 

Johnson did a significant chunk of damage on two plays, amassing 99 yards on two deep balls over the middle.  In the first quarter, Johnson hauled in a perfectly placed pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford after running a fly route right past the two Oakland safeties. 

In the fourth quarter, with the Lions down six late, the wideout again got behind the last line of coverage. This time Stafford underthrew Johnson, but he was able to adjust, come back to the ball, and haul in the 48-yard pass at the Raiders 13-yard line. 

Appropriately, Johnson caught the game-winning touchdown four plays later when he blew past cornerback Stanford Routt on a post pattern from the slot. 

The Raiders made the mistake of trying to defend Johnson with a single-coverage most of the day, and he made them pay time and time again. Johnson obviously took advantage of his speed on deep routes, but was also able to use it to get a step on his man underneath the coverage and pick up big chunks of yardage after the catch.

Johnson picked up 24 yards on a simple jerk route in the second quarter when he feigned sitting down in coverage two yards beyond the line of scrimmage, but once Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain bit, Johnson accelerated across the middle into open space. He gained 22 yards after the catch.  

Despite the huge statistical performance for Johnson, there were three missed opportunities to pad the box score. 

First, Johnson dropped the first pass thrown in his direction, a 15-yard post pattern that was a touch behind him, but easily catchable.

Later in the first half, on a well designed crossing route that utilized 265-pound tight end Brandon Pettigrew as a moving screen, Johnson caught a short pass going across the middle of the field. Usually one man can’t bring Johnson down, but Routt made an impressive diving tackle. If he had been unable to wrap up, the next, and only remaining defender between Johnson and a 46-yard touchdown was 15-yards down the field. 

Finally, in the third quarter, the Lions lined up in a four-receiver set with two receivers bunched on either side of the line. From the inside position to the right side of the field, Johnson managed to get behind the entire Raiders defense just 18 yards down the field. But a corner blitz by Lito Sheppard forced Stafford to unload his pass a touch early.  The throw, which would have resulted in a 47-yard touchdown, sailed a yard beyond Johnson’s outstretched arms. 

Johnson didn’t need to rely on his size to his advantage against the Raiders. The Oakland cornerbacks rarely physically engaged the over-sized receiver at the line of scrimmage, and because the Raiders didn’t employ double and triple-coverage, the Lions weren’t pressed into throwing him jump balls. 

Because play selection is determined by situation, it’s crude math to project Johnson would have had “X” amount of yards or touchdowns if he and Stafford had capitalized on any of the particular plays the Raiders defense nearly surrendered.

Still, it’s amazing to know that even with a career-high in receiver yards, Johnson missed out on a few more big plays during the course of the game. It’s safe to say future opponents will use the tape from this game as a study guide on how not to defend Johnson. 

LIONS

QB Matthew Stafford is is 2-0 vs. the AFC this year, completing 44 of 69 (63.8 percentage) for 561 yards with seven TDs vs. one INT for 116.9 rating. Detroit is 8-0 when he has 100-plus rating, including a 115.2 passer rating last week. Has 3,754 passing yards and needs 246 to become third Lions player with 4,000 passing yards.
RB Kevin Smith has recorded 100-plus scrimmage yards in a game nine times.
WR Calvin Johnson leads the NFC with 12 receiving touchdowns.
TE Brandon Pettigrew has 62 receptions and is close to passing his previous team record (71 in 2010). He also had a touchdown catch last week.
Rookie WR Titus Young had a career-long 57-yard TD catch last week.
Lions defense has scored six touchdowns (four interceptions, two force fumbles) most by Lions in a season since 1967.
DE Cliff Avril has seven sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries this season.
CB Alphonso Smith has two interceptions, including a 30-yard touchdown last week.
LB Stephen Tulloch had a forced fumble and touchdown last week.
K Jason Hanson needs three points to become first player in NFL history to score 2,000 points with one franchise

RAIDERS

Oakland is 4-1 at home all-time vs. Lions.
Raiders are 2-1 vs. NFC North this season.
QB Carson Palmer averages 316.5 passing yards per game at home in 2011 (633 in two games). Palmer is 2-0 vs. Lions with the Bengals.
Raiders are also tied for AFC lead with 15 rushing TDs with Houston.
RB Michael Bush is averaging 87.8 rushing yards per game as starter in 2011. Bush has three rushing TDs in three games vs. NFC in 2011. Has a career-best 764 rush yards in 2011.
RB Darren McFadden is averaging 120.3 rushing yards per game in past three vs. NFC (361 total).
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has career-best in catches (43) and receiving yards (620) this season.
TE Kevin Boss registered second TD catch of season in Week 14.
LB Rolando McClain had a career-high two sacks last week.
LB Kamerion Wimbley has six sacks in past six games.
DT Desmond Bryant is aiming for his third straight game with a sack.