The Las Vegas Raiders are attempting to go 3-0 for the first time since 2021. The team standing in the way of this achievement is the New Orleans Saints.
It will be a road game for the Raiders, but luckily, it won't be played in the early window. So, in a way, they won't have to deal with the time change, which can hurt a traveling football team. Let’s look at the keys to victory for the Raiders to pull off another road upset.
Las Vegas Raider skeys to victory vs. the New Orleans Saints
Pressure on Tyler Shough
While it may seem like a simple strategy, it will be a huge key to the Raiders winning this matchup. They have to make young quarterback Tyler Shough uncomfortable in the pocket and force him into mistakes.
Shough tends to get frantic under pressure. Saints fans will point to his good numbers under pressure; both of his interceptions came when he was pressured in the pocket. He even had an egregious intentional grounding call vs. the Detroit Lions because of it.
Rob Leonard will have to dial up the pressure and hit him early and often to get Shough off his game. If they don’t, Shough can pick apart any offense with his talent and decision-making.
A big dose of Washington and Jeanty
An area where the Saints have struggled is playing the run, as the Saints are 27th in rush EPA allowed. That means fans should expect to see a healthy dose of Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr.
The Raiders didn’t run the ball well in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers. This could be a bounce-back game for the rushing attack, and it could produce as it did in Week 1 of the NFL season. Both Washington and Jeanty performed well, and the Raiders will look to do it again.
If the Raiders can run the ball, it slows the Saints' blitz packages and opens up the passing game downfield. Expect the Raiders to play heavy personnel and run smash-mouth football.
Playing well in the 4th quarter
Another key expectation is playing well in the 4th quarter. The Saints are the best 4th-quarter team in football, a gritty team that plays hard all four quarters.
It will be vital that the Raiders build a lead, like previous Saints opponents, and finish the game strong. Shough becomes a different quarterback late in games, and he and Olave find ways to create explosive plays.
If the Raiders falter in the fourth quarter, it will be another comeback victory for the Saints. They must finish, and the coaching staff has to keep the foot on the gas.
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