Raiders: Keys to victory against the Jaguars in 2022 Week 9
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders will look to put Week 8 in the past on Sunday, as they once again play in the early window against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It has been a tough few days for the Las Vegas Raiders, as they were blanked by the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday in one of the worst efforts I remember in recent history. The offense struggled, the defense let Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara do whatever they wanted, and in the end, Josh McDaniels and his staff were outcoached.
It was the kind of loss that brings up flares when it comes to the organization, but this is the NFL, and things can change in a heartbeat.
On Sunday, the Silver and Black will head to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars, and while the Jags have struggled this season, that does not mean they do not have the talent to come away with the victory. Here, we look at the keys to victory for Las Vegas Sunday.
Raiders: Keys to victory against the Jaguars in 2022 Week 9
Don’t get cute
Too many times on Sunday, McDaniels and the coaching staff tried to get cute, including a fake punt, and running a jet sweep on third-and-1. Those are things that can turn the game on its head, and that was the case against the Saints, as it swung all the momentum into New Orleans favor.
Against Jacksonville, that cannot happen again, as while their record may not indicate it, the Jaguars are not a bad football team. They have been in nearly every game they have played in, and with a young quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, who knows when they will break out.
Sunday, McDaniels needs to keep it simple.
Attack with Adams and Jacobs
The Raiders success this season has come from getting Josh Jacobs the ball in the run game and finding Davante Adams in the passing game, something they went away from against the Saints. This Sunday, they have to go back to doing what works, as long, extended drives will keep Lawrence and this Jaguars offense on the sidelines, and wear them down on defense.
Jacobs has been one of the best running backs in the NFL this season, and now that he has survived the trade deadline, he needs to get the ball 20-plus times a game. For Adams, targeting him at least 8-to-10 times has to be the goal.
Force Lawrence off his mark
Lawrence is a second-year quarterback, and despite being the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, he has had his struggles. You would have though he would have taken a step forward with Doug Pederson replacing Urban Meyer this year, it has not been the case, as he has had issues with consistency.
On Sunday, Las Vegas needs to get the pass rush going with Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, forcing Lawrence off his mark, and into making mistakes. If they can get some turnovers from the young signal-caller, it could turn this game into a blowout for the Silver and Black.
If the Raiders can accomplish these three things, they should be able to come away with the victory, but as has been the case all year, we do not know which Raiders team is going to show up. Sure, the talent is there for this team to make a playoff run, but they were completely outclassed last weekend against the Saints, and are in danger of doing the same thing in Week 9 against the Jags.
Only time will tell.