A pair of teams looking to keep their playoff hopes alive will take the field in Oakland on Sunday when the Raiders (5-5) host the Miami Dolphins (5-5) in an AFC interdivision matchup.
Miami is coming off one of its worst offensive performances in recent memory, a 16-0 home loss to the Chicago Bears last Thursday. The Dolphins finished with 187 yards total offense and had only one third-down conversion.
Third-string quarterback Tyler Thigpen was sacked six times in his first start since 2008 and star wide receiver Brandon Marshall left the game in the second quarter after aggravating a right hamstring injury and did not return. It was the second time in 40 years that Miami was shut out at home.
Fortunately for the Dolphins (5-5), they will be playing the Raiders (5-5) on the road. Miami is 4-1 away from home this season and is looking for its fifth consecutive victory at Oakland.
Starting quarterback Chad Henne, who lost his job to Chad Pennington before both signal callers were injured in a 29-17 home victory over the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 14, took snaps along with Thigpen during Wednesday's practice.
Henne has a 7-4 career record as a starter on the road, but both quarterbacks have been instructed by head coach Tony Sparano to be prepared to start.
Offensive tackle Jake Long (shoulder) practiced this week, as did center Joe Berger (knee), but Marshall did not practice Wednesday due to the hamstring injury and is only expected to see limited playing time at best.
The Dolphins need to get their running game in order. Miami has averaged only 66.7 rushing yards in the last three games, but had a season-low 39 against the Bears.
Oakland is looking to win its fourth consecutive game at home, something it last accomplished from November 2002 to September 2003. The Raiders are looking to win their third straight at home in November.
The Raiders, 4-1 at home, trail the first-place Kansas City Chiefs by one game in the AFC West. Oakland is 3-0 in the division and has games remaining with all three division rivals.
Running back Darren McFadden is second in the NFL with an average of 128.6 scrimmage yards per game. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski leads the NFL with 23 made field goals and 92 points.
Quarterback Jason Campbell was lifted in favor of Bruce Gradkowski in the third quarter of Oakland's 35-3 loss at Pittsburgh last week, but is expected to start against the Dolphins. The Raiders had only 182 yards of total offense against Pittsburgh.
Defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who has five career sacks against Miami, will be in the lineup after being ejected from last week's game for an open-handed slap of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Seymour was fined $25,000 but was not suspended.
Miami, which has won seven of the last eight games against the Raiders, hasn't played in Oakland since a 33-21 victory on Nov. 27, 2005.