Raiders’ midseason report

(11-07) 19:35 PST — Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp says stats are for losers. Six out of eight times, the Raiders have been losers on the scoreboard, so stats remain relevant in this particular midseason report.

With that said, here are three numbers to keep in mind as the Raiders attempt to improve on a 2-6 first half of the season heading into Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at the Coliseum.

This much is clear: The Raiders better change something, because this familiar path has a familiar ending, and that’s a single-digit slot on the NFL draft board come April.

One - where the Raiders’ offensive line ranks in NFL penalties, with 10 offensive holdings and 21 false starts. As a team, the Raiders are 30th in league penalties with 60 for 428 yards.

That explains all the locker room talk about self-inflicted foot wounds. Too many offensive penalties stick the Raiders in dire passing situations, and they’re not built for long-distance passes.

On third downs alone, Oakland has nine false starts and 14 penalties overall. That’s made for 35 snaps on 3rd-and-double digits. No wonder the offense has converted just 40.5 percent of its 116 third-down plays.

The quarterbacks haven’t fared well under such duress, with Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper throwing 6 of 12 interceptions on third-down throws, and fumbling the ball another six times.

“I say this, and people look at me like I’m crazy, but there’s no team that has really gone out there and stopped us,” running back LaMont Jordan said. “We did a good job of stopping ourselves.”

Two - consecutive seasons the Raiders’ run defense has reeked. Ranked 28th last year, it brought back all 11 starters and found a way to regress.

Oakland is 30th overall against the run, allowing 152.5 yards per game. That 5.1 yards per carry is worst in the NFL. The Raiders are 28th with 60 rushing first downs allowed, 27th at 5.94 yards allowed on first downs, and so the story goes.

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