BOX SCORE

OAKLAND -– Raiders safety Charles Woodson was on NFL Network earlier this week, as big-time players are known to do. The veteran was asked about his upstart Raiders, out to a 3-3 start and competitive against all comers after years of awful football.

Competitive isn’t good enough for Woodson. Not by a long shot.

“That just sounds like you’re in the game, and nobody expects you to win,” Woodson said last week. “We need to go out on Sunday and be the team that’s supposed to be a playoff contender.”

The Raiders did exactly that against one of the AFC’s top teams. The Raiders jumped out to a huge lead and held strong for a 34-20 victory over the visiting New York Jets, ranked just above them in the conference standings.

While there’s over half-a-season left, the Raiders are now 4-3 and in an underdeveloped playoff picture after beating the Jets to start a three-game stretch against quality opposition.

Jack Del Rio has the Silver and Black executing well, with solid weekly game plans from his coordinators.

The Raiders secured this victory by beating the Jets at their own game. They ran well against the league’s best run defense, to the tune of 4.7 yards per carry.

The defense also did a number on Jets running back Chris Ivory, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry entering this game but was held to 17 yards on 15 carries.

Jets backup quarterback Geno Smith, filling in after starter Ryan Fitzpatrick got hurt in the first quarter, got the Jets moving late in the game by spreading the Raiders out.

The Jets were in comeback mode all day. The Raiders jumped out to a huge lead behind Latavius Murray and quarterback Derek Carr, who had another banner day. The second-year pro completed 23-of-36 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns.

The Jets stayed in the game by exchanging Raiders field goals with touchdowns as the game wore on. The Raiders pass defense struggled to stop the Jets in spread formations, which kept Gang Green within two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Raiders beat up No. 1 run D: The New York Jets entered Sunday’s game as the NFL’s best run-stopping unit, but struggled to corral Raiders rusher Latavius Murray.

The Jets gave up just 71.5 rushing yards per game before playing the Raiders, but Murray exceeded that total early in the third quarter. Murray used the edges well, with runs off tackle, sweeps and pitches to find space where he could use speed toward the sideline.

He was efficient for a second straight week while winning a key matchup, totaling 113 yards on 20 carries on the afternoon.

Another quick start: The Raiders went from 0 to 60 real fast San Diego last week en route to a surprise road victory over the Chargers. The nitrous oxide tank apparently had some juice leftover. The Silver and Black used it on the New York Jets Sunday afternoon, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions and held a 21-6 halftime lead.

Every score came courtesy of quarterback Derek Carr, who attacked a talented Jets defense without fear. He was 14-for-18 for 178 yards, three touchdowns and a 147.5 passer rating.

Murray got off to a hot start as well and the defense was strong while establishing an early lead.

Woodson gets another pick: Ageless wonder Charles Woodson continues to defy expectation, corralling his fifth interception of the season with a leaping pick over Brandon Marshall. It put the 39-year old Raiders safety into the NFL lead for interceptions. The reigning AFC defensive player of the month has four in his last four games.

This pick was similar to one made against Peyton Manning, when he came to the sideline from midfield and stole a deep attempt that fluttered some in the air.

Fitzpatrick lost early: The Raiders caught a break on the game’s opening series, when starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went down with a thumb injury suffered to his non-throwing hand while scrambling for a 12-yard gain.

Backup Geno Smith, out early in the year with a broken jaw, hadn’t taken a snap all season before Sunday. He struggled in Fitzpatrick’s stead, and the start was not able to return.

Sitting it out: The Raiders were fairly healthy heading into Week 8, with only linebacker Neiron Ball rule out with injury. The rookie fifth-round pick had become a strong coverage linebacker on passing downs.

Other Raiders inactives: WR Walt Powell, CB Dexter McDonald, OL Jon Feliciano, OL Matt McCants, WR Rod Streater, DL C.J. Wilson.

The Jets played without two starters in center Nick Mangold and strong safety Calvin Pryor.

What's next: The Raiders are in the middle of three straight games versus teams without a losing record, with the lone road game of that stretch next week at the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers got quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back, but may have lost running back Le’Veon Bell for an extended stretch with a knee injury.