The Las Vegas Raiders will play their first outdoor game of the season in Week 5 against the New England Patriots. Last season, the Raiders traveled east and upset the Patriots 20-13, but this New England squad built momentum with a win over the Buffalo Bills last week.
Despite potential rain at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, head coach Klint Kubiak could exploit the Patriots' vulnerable secondary, which will be without its starting cornerbacks, Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III. Barring a monsoon, it's a favorable matchup for Kirk Cousins and his perimeter playmakers.
Drake Maye had his best outing of the season last week, but he couldn't break his turnover trend. The Raiders defense could get back to pouncing on takeaways after failing to force a turnover in Week 4.
Raiders offense will likely attack Patriots through the air, while Las Vegas’ defense comes up big
Kirk Cousins throws for more yards than Drake Maye
This prediction would have been laughable in the offseason, but Kirk Cousins can still sling it. He's tied with Brock Purdy for a league-leading 11 touchdown passes and ranks 11th with 1,026 passing yards.
In this matchup, Cousins has an advantage because the Patriots' secondary is banged up. Without Gonzalez and Davis, the 38-year-old signal-caller could throw for 300-plus yards in back-to-back games.
So far this season, Maye has thrown for more than 208 yards once, last week (267) against the Bills' 27th-ranked pass defense. The Raiders are eighth in passing yards allowed and will be stingier in giving up big plays through the air.
Cody White scores team-leading fourth touchdown of the season
Jalen Nailor has been on the field for 48% of offensive snaps, and he's caught five of 11 passes for 52 yards. With Nailor sidelined this week, Cody White could see more snaps and, as a result, more targets in the passing game.
Even in a limited role, White has earned Cousins' trust inside the red zone, recording all three of his receiving touchdowns within 13 yards of the goal line. As the likely No. 2 wideout, he could crack 50 receiving yards in a game for the first time this season, and the increased volume also gives him a better chance to score.
In Nailor's absence, White played 61% of the snaps against the Chiefs. He'll likely take on a similar workload as a primary target on Sunday.
Raiders defense records at least one interception
Even in a strong showing against the Bills, Maye threw his seventh interception of the season, the most in the league. Keep in mind that wide receivers A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins won't play, which limits the Patriots' turnover-prone aerial attack.
The Raiders have recorded four interceptions; rookie fifth-rounder Hezekiah Masses has three in three starts. If Maye targets him, with his third- or fourth-best receiver, the Raiders could renew their streak of takeaways.
Las Vegas has forced at least two turnovers in three of its four games this season, picking off the quarterback in each of those outings.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
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