Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch in 2021 preseason Week 2

HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 29: Marcus Mariota #8, Derek Carr #4, and Nathan Peterman #3 of the Las Vegas Raiders are shown during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 29, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 29: Marcus Mariota #8, Derek Carr #4, and Nathan Peterman #3 of the Las Vegas Raiders are shown during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 29, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
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HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 28: Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs a drill during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 28: Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs a drill during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch in 2021 preseason Week 2

Is the Raiders defense for real?

During the Raiders win against Seattle in the first preseason game, the defense looked good, holding them to only seven points. While I know it was preseason, and they were not going up against the starters, it was still a great effort from a unit that is looking to put a terrible 2020 campaign in the past.

On Wednesday, the defense looked outstanding once again, this time doing it against the starting offense for the Rams. They were in Matthew Stafford’s face all game long, forcing multiple interceptions, and for the most part, the defense was flying all over the field, making play after play.

In the game on Saturday night, the defense is going to face a stiffer test than they did against the Seahawks, and that should at least give a little better barometer of what they look like. Sure, they will not face Stafford, as Sean McVay has said he will never play a preseason snap for him, but the secondary will get good competition, as will the defensive line.

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