When the Las Vegas Raiders travel down to play at Caesars Superdome in Week 3, it will be their first true road game of the 2026 NFL season. After all, Raider Nation showed out at home at Allegiant Stadium in Week 1 and then took over SoFi Stadium in Week 2's win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
But the New Orleans Saints host the Silver and Black in their home opener on Sunday, and those folks down there in the Big Easy will make life very hard on Klint Kubiak's team. And on top of that, the 2-0 Raiders will have to neutralize several very good and underrated players on Kellen Moore's Saints.
These three matchups, though, will decide the contest between these two teams:
3 matchups that will decide Las Vegas Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints
Kolton Miller vs. Chase Young
Young is the centerpiece of the Saints' very good pass rush, and he had seven pressures and 1.5 sacks a week ago against the Baltimore Ravens. He was an issue for Penei Sewell at times on opening weekend as well, so he could pose problems for the Raiders' Kolton Miller.
In Week 1, Miller was lights out in pass protection, but in Week 2, he gave up two hits on Kirk Cousins. He'll need to regain his form from the Miami Dolphins game and limit Young to give Cousins time to throw and the offense time to operate on Sunday.
The whole offensive line needs to bring their "A" game, but Miller showing up is paramount.
Ashton Jeanty vs. Saints' front 7
Jeanty and the run game really struggled against the Chargers, and they have to rebound in Week 3 to take the pressure off Cousins and the air attack. Luckily, New Orleans has given up 273 rushing yards in the first two games, which is the seventh-most in the NFL. This is a big opportunity for him.
Yes, the Saints faced off against Jahmyr Gibbs and the tandem of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, but isn't Jeanty also an elite running back in this league? He could easily have success against this front seven, as others have. And if he does, it'll go a long way in Las Vegas pulling out a win.
Maxx Crosby and Raiders' DEs vs New Orleans' underwhelming OTs
Tyler Shough is the most pressured and second-most sacked quarterback in the NFL through two weeks. And now, instead of starting left tackle Kelvin Banks being out there, it'll be backup Asim Richards, because Banks was placed on IR earlier this week with an ankle injury.
New Orleans was already having issues at the tackle spots, and now things are worse. Crosby, Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce should have a field day against Richards and Taliese Fuaga and make Shough run for his life all day on Sunday. If they can do that, the Saints will be completely disjointed.
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