Raiders at Falcons -- Week 6
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (artificial turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT (CBS)
Spread: Falcons by 9
Records: Raiders (Overall: 1-3, AFC West: 0-2); Falcons (Overall: 5-0, NFC South 1-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 12, 2004: Falcons 35, Raiders 10; Nov. 11, 2008: Falcons 24, Raiders 0. Series record: Raiders lead the series 7-5.
What matters: The Raiders have lost nine straight games following a bye week, and they'll try to snap that streak on the road against the red-hot Atlanta Falcons, who are in a select club with the Houston Texans as one of only two undefeated teams in the NFL. On paper, this is a huge mismatch. Atlanta is averaging 29.6 points per game, and the Raiders are allowing 31.25. For the Raiders to pull off an upset, they'll need to get their dormant running game, which ranks last in the NFL, untracked. And they'll also need to find a way to slow down QB Matt Ryan and the Falcons' lethal passing attack.
Who matters: The Raiders had extra time during their bye week to fix their running game and find a way to jumpstart RB Darren McFadden. Putting the ball in his hands more often, as QB Carson Palmer suggested, is one possible solution, but that plan would have to be abandoned if the Raiders fall behind quickly. The Raiders' patchwork secondary, still missing starting cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer, will face one of the NFL's hottest quarterbacks in Ryan, who has his pick of dangerous targets, They include wideouts Roddy White, Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez, who leads the NFL in receptions with 39. DE Andre Carter, who'll make his Raiders debut Sunday, could give the defense a boost. He has 76 career sacks.
Key matchups: Raiders CBs Michael Huff and Pat Lee vs. Falcons WRs White and Jones. Huff, the Raiders' regular starting free safety, will make his third straight start at left corner, and Lee will make his fourth straight start at right corner. White led the NFL with a franchise record 115 catches in 2010, caught 100 passes last season and has 31 catches this season. Jones caught 54 passes last year as a rookie and already has 26 grabs this year, four for TDs.
Injuries of note: Spencer (sprained right foot) and starting right tackle Khalif Barnes (groin) will miss their third straight game, and backup TE Richard Gordon (hamstring) will miss his second straight. Starting DT Tommy Kelly (foot) is listed as questionable but is expected to play.
Inside stuff: The Raiders' defense ranks last in the NFL in third-down efficiency with opponents converting 53.3 percent of its attempts (32 of 60). They'll face a Falcons offense that ranks No. 2 in the NFL in third-down efficiency, converting 48.5 percent of its attempts (32 of 66).
Connections: Raiders rookie coach Dennis Allen was an assistant coach for the Falcons from 2002-2005. He was born in Atlanta, and his father, Grady, was a Falcons linebacker from 1968-72. ... Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was Atlanta's O-coordinator from 2004-06. ... Raiders strength and conditioning coach Al Miller held that job for Atlanta from 1997-2005.
Stat you should know: In the past two games, facing Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger and Denver's Peyton Manning, the Raiders' defense allowed a combined 722 passing yards and 7 TDs. Roethlisberger and Manning went a combined 66 for 87, completing 75.9 percent of their passes.
Record watch: Darren McFadden has 2,830 career rushing yards and needs 170 more to become the 12th player in Raiders history to run for at least 3,000 yards.
Looking ahead: The Raiders' schedule eases up after Sunday with a home game against Jacksonville, road game at Kansas City and home game vs. Tampa Bay. Those teams are a combined 3- 11.
Prediction: Falcons 31, Raiders 17
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.