Dennis Allen: 'Starting fast is critical for Oakland Raiders'

Dennis Allen has said that making fast starts to games in the NFL is critical for the Oakland Raiders.

The AFC West side failed to score in the first quarter of their 24-7 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month, but scored two touchdowns in the opening 15 minutes against the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.

The head coach told reporters: "We made a big point of it. Right now we're in the top five in the league as far as first-quarter scoring differential.

"We've been able to start fast and I think that's a critical aspect of playing good football, especially at home because the crowd gets in it, the crowd gets excited.

"But we've got to do a better job of finishing the game. We have to do a better job of staying focused and maintaining the same attitude, the same mindset, throughout the football game."

The Raiders face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.