3 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Ravens in Week 1
By Alex Perl
3 reasons the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Ravens in Week 1
Ravens Injuries
Nothing is more aggravating than injuries in football, but that is just a part of the game. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they will be receiving the shorter end of the stick on that front. The offense of the Ravens has been hit with injuries at almost breakneck speed.
With starting running back JK Dobbins tearing his ACL, which ended his season, and first-round pick wide receiver Rashod Bateman being placed on IR, the Ravens are looking a lot thinner on offense than originally anticipated. The top wide receiver on the Ravens, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is also banged up, and although the Ravens’ top receiving options are usually revolved around the tight end corps, led by Mark Andrews, having such limited options around Lamar Jackson will indeed affect the outcome of this game.
The Raiders improved defense will be taking on an injury-ravaged Ravens offense, which should pay huge dividends in a Raiders victory. Jackson is always a tough opponent to figure out, but with his top running back out for the season, and one of his most anticipated receiving threats now out for the clash, it seems that the Ravens will look much weaker.
The injuries will play a part in this one, as the weapons for the Ravens have been nearly cut in half. The Raiders will take advantage of this, and playing a Ravens team at full strength may have played a different story here, but with the injuries, the Raiders should win this one at home inside a rowdy Allegiant Stadium.