Reasons the Las Vegas Raiders will beat the Jaguars in Week 9
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders will battle it out against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, and here is why they will come out with the victory.
On Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a battle of two-win teams. For the Raiders, this game comes after a drubbing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, a game where they did not show up on either side of the ball.
After beating Houston the week before, many felt the Raiders had put their season back on track, but all of that blew up in their faces inside the Caesars Superdome. Now, they take on another team struggling to find the winning recipe in a game that will end the playoff hopes of one of these two teams.
However, here is why the Silver and Black will come away with the victory.
Reasons the Las Vegas Raiders will beat the Jaguars in Week 9
The season is on the brink
Truth be told, if the Raiders lose this game on Sunday, there is really no chance of them making it to the playoffs. Sure, they were able to win four straight to close the 2021 campaign and clinch a playoff spot, but back-to-back losses to both New Orleans and Jacksonville would show how lost this team is.
With so many veterans and supposed leaders in the locker room, you would have to think they would band together to win this matchup. If they do not, we might as well start looking toward the 2023 NFL Draft.
McDaniels won’t make the mistake of abandoning the run
Against the Saints, Josh McDaniels failed to utilize what has been his best asset on offense this season, running back Josh Jacobs. The veteran back rushed only ten times against the Saints, and while he still averaged better than four yards per carry, he was abandoned when it counted.
On Sunday, McDaniels needs to get the running game going right out of the gate, putting together a long first offensive drive to set the tone. If Jacobs runs the way he has in the past this season, the Silver and Black could cruise to a victory.
Derek Carr will outplay Trevor Lawrence
This one may rub many in Raider Nation the wrong way, but I believe that Derek Carr will outplay Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, and that will be the difference. Carr played poorly during the team’s loss last weekend against the Saints, failing to move the ball past midfield, so you would hope he has a big chip on his shoulder going into this one.
Carr was having a strong season prior to the Saints game, and he could have his full compliment of weapons on Sunday with Darren Waller questionable to play. If the Raiders have all their weapons available, and Carr does not outplay a second-year quarterback in Lawrence, then the Silver and Black have bigger problems than any of us could have imagined.