Raiders will likely be challenged in opposition to Washington American Football Group

Las Vegas Raiders tight finish Foster Moreau (87) celebrates along with his crew after scoring a landing in the second part of their sport in opposition to the Bengals at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. The Bengals beat the Raiders 32-13.

By way of Case Keefer

Solar, Dec 5, 2021 (2 a.m.)

The Raiders end off the interconference portion in their agenda with Washington’s first-ever shuttle to Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas has long past 2-2 in opposition to the NFC to this point, knocking off the 2 higher-rated groups in Dallas and Philadelphia however getting dissatisfied by means of the 2 lesser groups in Chicago and the New York Giants. Washington falls someplace in between. The Soccer Group grades out poorly by means of any complex measure however has grown to become its season around and recently sits within the ultimate NFC playoff spot with a three-game profitable streak. That features a 29-19 dissatisfaction of the protecting Tremendous Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 weeks in the past and a 17-15 victory in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks on remaining week’s Monday Evening Soccer. The Raiders would possibly seem a degree above the Soccer Group at the floor, however, issues have hardly ever long passed in line with the plan of their video games this season, because the underdog has received outright in seven of eleven contests.

Favorable matchup: Raiders’ offensive creativity vs. Washington’s protection

Las Vegas broke out of an offensive hunch in the remaining week’s 36-33 Thanksgiving day victory in Dallas in large part as it assorted its assault. A previous three-game dropping streak the place the Raiders averaged handiest 14 issues in keeping with the sport had observed the remainder of the league get comfy in protecting in opposition to offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s dispositions. Olson switched it up in opposition to Dallas, then again, by means of the usage of better-timed and designed runs, calling a better fee of play-action passes, and putting backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in a few very powerful short-yardage eventualities. Beginning quarterback Derek Carr, who recently leads the NFL in passing with 3,414 yards, mentioned all of the new wrinkles the Raiders confirmed in opposition to the Cowboys will have to make it more difficult for long-term combatants to organize. That might particularly ring true in opposition to a sliding Washington protection, which charges twenty-ninth within the NFL in giving up 5.9 yards in keeping with play and thirty-first on protection general by means of Soccer Outsiders’ DVOA metric.

THEY SAID IT

“The D-line is getting again there and doing what they do prefer, they’ve been doing a really perfect task for us (defensive backs). If I’d have went increased within the draft, I’d have taken them out to devour a pair occasions however I’ve were given to avoid wasting up.” -Cornerback Nate Hobbs, a rookie fifth-round select, at the power the Raiders are growing up entrance

“I advised them I’ll have the option to play if I wish to — to find some grownup diapers or no matter, trash bag at the sideline.” -Kicker Daniel Carlson on his bout with meals poisoning sooner than the Cowboys’ sport

“The best way I believe concerning the groups I go away that I used to play for, I at all times really feel like I’ve were given to lead them to pay further onerous as a result of they’d an additional probability to stay me and didn’t.” -Huge receiver DeSean Jackson on going up in opposition to Washington the place he performed from 2014-2016

“I at all times shaggy dog story around with (offensive coordinator Greg Olson). He’s like, ‘Anything else you don’t like?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, simply the ones run performs. Simply name the passes.’ That’s each and every quarterback. I virtually went to SMU with June Jones out of high school as a result of he’s like, ‘You’ll be able to come right here, and we’ll throw it each and every play.’” -Quarterback Carr on Olson’s playcalling

Problematic matchup: Huge receiver Terry McLaurin vs. Raiders’ secondary

Maximum anticipated Washington to be an extra defensive-led crew entering the season, but it surely’s grown to become out to be the other. The Soccer Group has been extra deadly offensively with a scheme constructed across the talents of the third-year receiver out of Ohio State who sits sixteenth within the NFL with 786 receiving yards on 58 catches. He has 4 video games with a minimum of 100 receiving yards and has in particularly heated upright through the win streak, catching 15 passes on 22 goals from bettering first-year beginning quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Las Vegas’ most sensible cornerback, Casey Hayward, and loose protection, Tre’von Moehring, had been cast all over the 12 months however combatants have begun searching matchups with the likes of 2d cornerback Brandon Facyson and powerful protection Johnathan Abram. Washington received to be any other as it’s going to in particular be searching for out favorable spots for McLaurin, who’s one of the most uncommon receivers who can in point of fact do all of it. He got here into the league scouted most commonly as a deep danger, however, has grown to become out to be simply as unhealthy in selecting up yards after the catch.

Gamebreaker: Kicker Daniel Carlson

The AFC Particular Groups Participant of the Week merits some love. The Raiders wouldn’t have crushed the Cowboys without Carlson. No longer handiest did the fourth-year veteran kick the game-winner in time beyond regulation and a 56-yarder close to the top of the law, however, he was once additionally very best on the remainder of his makes an attempt and additional issues — greater than may well be mentioned for Dallas counterpart Greg Zuerlein. For Carlson, it was once not anything new. He struggled just a little in his first complete 12 months with the Raiders in 2019 however was a once nice remaining season and has been even greater this 12 months. He’s made 24 of 27 box purpose makes an attempt, together with going 5-for-6 from 50-plus yards and 4-for-5 from 40-49 yards. Group leaders like linebacker Denzel Perryman and working again Josh Jacobs have long passed out in their option to reward Carlson in contemporary information meetings. Jacobs even printed that he has his personal nickname for Carlson — “sniper” as a result of his this sort of certain shot.

Giant Quantity: 4

Directly video games that edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue has registered a minimum of one sack, tying the career-best run of his six-year stint within the NFL. He’d set a brand new personal-record streak with a sack in opposition to his fatherland crew this week, and there’s no explanation why to suppose he received be capable of getting one. Washington sits twentieth within the NFL in permitting sacks on 6.11% of snaps. All 8 of Ngakoue’s sacks with the Raiders have come within the remaining six weeks, striking him on the kind of tear that will typically name for double-teams and additional consideration from combatants. It’s onerous for groups to do this in opposition to the Raiders, despite the fact that as a result of Maxx Crosby has been arguably even greater at the different facet. Crosby has 3 fewer sacks than Ngakoue at the season with 5 however even greater power numbers in spite of ceaselessly showing to be held by means of opposing offensive linemen. Raiders’ lovers had been irate with uncalled consequences in opposition to Crosby, and to a lesser extent, Ngakoue, however defensive coordinator Gus Bradley mentioned the concept officers could be looking out going ahead.

Easiest Guess (5-6): Josh Jacobs over 13.5 dashing makes an attempt

Reviews surfaced sooner than the Cowboys’ sport that the Raiders had been emphasizing getting Jacobs extra concerned within the offense, and so they grew to become out to be true as he ran a season-high 22 occasions for 87 yards. That is supposed to be extra of the norm going ahead than his earlier season moderate of eleven carries in keeping with the sport. Jacobs was once at the harm document this week as a restricted follow player with a sore ankle, however, the Raiders are at all times wary with him. It doesn’t seem to be a significant worry. And, be mindful, if Jacobs does finally end up tweaking the ankle additional and sitting out of his 0.33 sport of the season, all prop bets could be refunded.