The New Orleans Saints play host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday afternoon in a crucial showdown from Caesars Superdome. The Raiders only have two wins on the season, though have continued to look like a dangerous team when everything is aligning. For the Saints, back-to-back losses have them searching and trying to get back into the win column as they return home. The last team these met was back in 2020, with the Raiders coming away with the ten-point win, though this rematch could certainly go either way.
With all of the offseason moves that the Raiders made coming into the fall, expectations were high for this group. Through the first few months of the season though, it has been struggle after struggle for this group. A win last week against Houston helped to right the ship but with their only other win coming against Denver, this team doesn't have much that's impressive on their resume. To their credit, all of their losses have come by single digits, but they know that they can't afford many slip-ups down the stretch. With an 0-3 record on the road, questions also remain as to how this group will handle traveling out to New Orleans.
The wide receiver room is the main concern heading into the weekend for the Raiders. Hunter Renfrow (hip) and Mack Hollins (hee) are both questionable, while all eyes are on Davante Adams (flu), who is probable to go. The good news is that Las Vegas isn't nearly as beaten up on the defensive side of the ball, where they have struggled with depth this season.
Grindin' ?? pic.twitter.com/elkeGIa2e6
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 27, 2022
Offensively, the Raiders have been able to move the ball on some of the best teams in the league this year, as moving the ball in this one shouldn't be a problem. Las Vegas ranks third in the league in scoring offense and with a balanced attack that can get it done either on the ground or through the air, that versatility will play well on Sunday. While all the attention is focused on Derek Carr and Adams, the emergence of Josh Jacobs has been crucial for this team. The more the Raiders can rely on jacobs on the ground, the more dangerous this offense will become.
For as good as Las Vegas has been on the offensive side of things, they've been nothing short of disappointing on the defensive side. They rank 26th in the league in scoring defense, though their run defense is ranked in the top ten. They'll be focused on slowing down the Saints in this one but with a secondary that has struggled, they'll need to be careful of what they wish for, should the Saints take to the air. Divine Deablo (59 tackles) has led the way all season, though Maxx Crosby (6 sacks) remains the difference-maker.
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