More than in the first two games of the 2026 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders will be tested on the road in Week 3 against the New Orleans Saints, both mentally and physically. It'll be a packed house and a hostile crowd, and the Raiders have somewhat of a target on their back as a 2-0 team.
Klint Kubiak's squad has displayed great maturity and focus thus far, but that was in front of two friendly crowds. How this young team responds in the face of adversity, and there will be some on Sunday, will say a lot about them in the early going. It's a big game in many, many ways.
We've got you covered here for everything you might need before this matchup, from how to watch, to the injury reports for the Raiders and the Saints, to big storylines to expert predictions.
- How to watch Raiders vs. Saints in Week 3
- Raiders injury report for Week 3
- Saints injury report for Week 3
- Biggest Raiders storylines heading into Week 3
- Predictions for Raiders vs. Saints in Week 3
How to watch Raiders vs. Saints in Week 3
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
- Time: 1:25 p.m. PT
- TV Network: CBS
- Announcers: Chris Lewis (Play-by-Play), Luke Kuechly (Color)
What a surprise that the Raiders are playing in the afternoon window, even when they're down in the Southeast. America's game of the week is the Dallas Cowboys-Baltimore Ravens showdown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so this game may not have a lot of eyes on it, which is completely fine. Win in silence.
Raiders injury report for Week 3
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Treydan Stukes | SAF | Concussion | OUT |
Brock Bowers | TE | Knee | Questionable |
Kwity Paye | DE | Illness | Questionable |
Aidan O'Connell | QB | NIR - Personal | Questionable |
Ashton Jeanty | RB | Ankle | - |
Darien Porter | CB | Foot | - |
With Stukes officially out, all eyes are on whether or not Bowers will play in Week 3. Paye seems likely to suit up, as all he's dealing with is an illness. O'Connell did not travel with the team, so it's unlikely he is available. Jeanty and Porter are both off the injury report and ready to go.
Saints injury report for Week 3
Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Barion Brown | WR/RS | Hamstring | OUT |
Christen Miller | DL | Toe | OUT |
Martin Emerson Jr. | CB | Shoulder | Questionable |
Travis Etienne Jr. | RB | Hamstring | - |
Chase Young | DE | Calf | - |
None of the Saints' big-time players who were on the injury report are actually out for Sunday's game, but a key rotational piece in Miller and a solid return specialist in Brown will both be sidelined. New Orleans is a bit healthier than Las Vegas, it seems.
Biggest Raiders storylines heading into Week 3
Will Brock Bowers play?
Bowers playing would completely change the complexion for Kubiak's offense, as not only is he an all-world talent worthy of tons of attention, but he provides a big threat across the middle and in intermediate areas, where the Raiders have been lacking all season long.
Yes, Las Vegas is 2-0 without Bowers, but the Saints are the best team that the Silver and Black have played this year, at least on paper. Without him, the emphasis on the run game will be even stronger. With him, the offense should fully open up.
What is the Raiders' plan without Treydan Stukes?
Stukes has quickly become a pivotal piece of the Raiders' defense, and he binds the secondary together. But his not being out there poses some issues for Las Vegas, as it doesn't really have a contingency plan for him at free safety. Jeremy Chinn and Isaiah Pola-Mao are the replacements.
Perhaps Rob Leonard gets super creative and drops Taron Johnson back deep and mixes in some exotic coverage looks to shore up the back end with Stukes in street clothes. Whatever it is, their plan succeeding will go a long way in tilting the balance of this matchup in New Orleans.
Can Las Vegas get the ground game going again?
It has been a tale of two weeks for the Raiders' run game, as it was dominant in Week 1 and failed to make an impact in Week 2. Part of that was the offensive line not paving holes; part of it was Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. not really finding the holes that were paved for them.
Either way, Kubiak won't be abandoning the run, so Las Vegas is going to have to figure it out. And the Saints' run defense has been porous through two games, so this is the perfect chance for Jeanty and Co. to get back on track.
Predictions for Raiders vs. Saints in Week 3
ESPN Experts
Jason Reid - Raiders
Seth Wickersham - Raiders
Matt Bowen - Saints
Dan Graziano - Saints
Mike Clay - Saints
Jeremy Fowler - Saints
Pamela Maldonado - Saints
Eric Moody - Saints
Ben Solak - Saints
Lindsey Thiry - Saints
Kalyn Kahler - Saints
NFL Media
Bucky Brooks - Raiders
Dan Parr - Raiders
Colleen Wolfe - Raiders
Brandon Perna - Saints
Kevin Patra - Saints
Lance Zierlein - Saints
Tom Grossi - Saints
Nick Shook - Saints
Grant Gordon - Saints
Brooke Cersosimo - Saints
Bleacher Report
Brent Sobleski - Raiders
Gary Davenport - Raiders
Moe Moton - Raiders
Kristopher Knox - Saints
Wes O'Donnell - Saints
Ian Hanford - Saints
Brad Gagnon - Saints
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