Raiders CB Michael Huff is ready for the challenge Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman and his receivers present. "You've got to always be ready for the ball," Huff said. (US Presswire)

The Oakland Raiders have one area of concern against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that's QB Josh Freeman. He has completed only 55.2 percent of his passes, tied for 31st in the NFL. But he ranks second in the league at 8.1 yards per attempt and averages 14.6 yards per completion.

In other words, Freeman's strength is the vertical game. He has a nice touch on his deep strikes, and he's not afraid to throw long even if his wide receivers -- 6-foot-5 Vincent Jackson and 6-foot-2 Mike Williams -- are covered.

"We've seen it on film," Raiders CB Michael Huff said. "They're double-covered, but he's still throwing it to them and they still make plays, so you've got to always be ready for the ball."

Freeman has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his past three games. Jackson, a former Charger, has 29 catches for 626 yards -- 21.6 per catch -- and five touchdowns. Williams has 25 catches for 426 yards -- 17.4 per catch -- and four scores.

"They have a lot of confidence in their receivers," Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. "Their receivers do an outstanding job in not only going up and getting the ball and catching it at its highest point, but they also do a great job of body control, being able to twist and contort their body and still be able to get their feet down in bounds on those sideline throws." 

Down and out: Starting CB Shawntae Spencer (foot) and OT Khalif Barnes (groin) were ruled out for Sunday and will miss their sixth straight games. Neither one has practiced since being hurt in Week 2 at Miami.

Barnes, who had surgery, said he doesn't have a specific timetable for his return. "I'll be back soon," he added.

Injury report: Linebacker Keenan Clayton (shoulder) was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. He was injured two weeks ago against Jacksonville, re-injured last week against Kansas City and hasn't practiced this week.

Starting MLB Rolando McClain (toe) and backup RB Taiwan Jones (knee) are questionable. Jones has missed the past two games.

McClain has practiced all week but has been limited, and Allen said he'll be a game-time decision.

Take a knee at your own risk: If the Raiders have the ball and a small lead Sunday in the final seconds, they'll know better than to use the standard "victory formation" and kneel-down play. Bucs rookie coach Greg Schiano believes in playing all-out from start to finish. Earlier in the season, the Giants went into the victory formation, and the Bucs' defense sent QB Eli Manning to the ground hard. Schiano drew the wrath of Giants coach Tom Coughlin, but he hasn't changed his approach.

Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he'll make sure "that we're in the mode of aggressive blocking up front," if that situation arises Sunday. "Sometimes that down is kind of a relaxed down. We're making sure, 'No, don't take it as a relaxed down. ... We're making sure we don't let any penetration come through the inside."

Allen said he doesn't "really have an opinion one way or the other" on Schiano's aggressive approach. "They're trying to win just like we're trying to win."

Extra points: Sunday's game will be televised live in the Bay Area. The Raiders extended their streak of home games without a blackout to 12. ... DT Richard Seymour was fined $15,750 for roughing Chiefs QB Matt Cassel late in the fourth quarter last week. He was penalized on the play. ... Allen said he hasn't decided whether to activate LB Aaron Curry for Sunday's game. "I'll make that decision, probably, whenever I need to, whenever I feel it's the right thing for our football team, and we've still got time to do that."

Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter @CBSRaiders.