Las Vegas Raiders X-Factors against Cincinnati in 2021 Week 11

Las Vegas Raiders X-Factors against Cincinnati in 2021 Week 11

Trevon Moehrig

The Raiders rookie has been a big bright spot for the team’s defense this year. Drafted to be the coverage blanket over the top at free safety, he has been everything the hype built him up to be. His ability to process plays and cover ground has been great and was put on full display last week when he almost picked off Patrick Mahomes.

Going into Week 11, he’ll have quite the task ahead of him. The biggest reason the Bengals have been a force to be recon with this year is because of their high-powered offense, namely their two stud wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

While Higgins has been holding his own this season averaging 13 yards per reception, it’s the rookie Ja’Marr Chase who has been absolutely unstoppable this year and is making his case for offensive rookie of the year.

Chase is averaging 19 yards per reception, has totaled 7 touchdowns already through 9 games, and hasn’t had a game with less than 34 yards as his longest reception since Week 2 against the jets. In week 6 against the Ravens, he blew up for 8 receptions, 201 yards, and an 82-yard reception that he took to the endzone for a touchdown.

Moehrig is going to have his hands full this with both players on either side of the field. As Gus Bradley’s defense likes to do, they will give up the short stuff to not get beat over the top. A big part of why that is successful though is Moehrig’s ability to read and react.

If the Raiders defense is going to stop this high-powered offense from putting up Chief-like numbers on them, it’s going to start with Moehring’s ability to limit any and all big plays from Higgins or Chase over the top.