Silver Minings: Raiders need to change post-bye week history

In the two games since he has taken over for Jon Gruden as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia has pushed all the right buttons as he has led the team to two double-digit victories to improve to 5-2.

Bisaccia’s next on-field challenge is to change a long-running Raiders’ trend: they need to be better after the bye week. According to the Associated Press, the Raiders are just 3-15 in their first game after they bye in the past 18 seasons. That is the worst post-bye record in the NFL over that time period.

The Raiders, however, have a strong opportunity to change their post-bye week fortune as the visit the 2-6 New York Giants on Sunday. The Raiders are a three-point favorite according to our friends at DraftKings Sportsbook. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. PT.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Inside team during tragedy: Longtime NFL reporter Michael Silver talked to team members after the fatal Henry Ruggs III crash Tuesday.
• Week 9 power rankings: Check out where Pro Football Talk has the Raiders’ ranked in this week’s power rankings.
• Mail call: The Athletic has a Raiders’ mailbag.
• All-Rookie team: Raiders’ safety Tre’von Moehrig has made The Athletic’s mid-season All-Rookie squad.