Las Vegas Raiders: JustBlogBaby staff predictions vs. New Orleans Saints
Brad Weiss, Site Expert
In a game that is certain to have a ton of big plays, the Raiders will play host to the New Orleans Saints in a statement game for the franchise. Since arriving prior to the 2018 NFL season, Jon Gruden has been trying to get this organization back to being one of the best in the AFC, and he can show the world his plan is working against a superior team in primetime.
Last week, Josh Jacobs put the rest of the league on notice, building off a dominant rookie season by rushing for three touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers. The Saints have a much better defense than Carolina, including an elite defensive line, but the Silver and Black counter with arguably the best offensive line in the league.
New Orleans will also be without star wide receiver Michael Thomas, who would have been a matchup nightmare for this Raiders young secondary. Sure, Drew Brees has other weapons, but the loss of Thomas should give the Silver and Black some added confidence going up against this elite offense.
I actually like the Raiders offense, led by Jacobs and Derek Carr to hang with the Saints in this one, and like last week, make the big stops late to win the game at home. Las Vegas open their new stadium with a victory, and in the process, shows the rest of the league that they are no longer a soft spot on anyone’s schedule.
Prediction: Raiders 30, Saints 28