Raiders at Saints: Preview, Predictions, and More
Oakland Raiders vs New Orleans Saints
The Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints look to improve on identical 7-9 records from the 2015 season. Both clubs also share a division with the previous Super Bowl participants, who played on Thursday Night Football. The opposing quarterbacks, Drew Brees and Derek Carr, tied for 32 touchdown passes last year. Though, Carr threw two more interceptions (13) than Brees.
Days before starting the season, the Saints locked up Brees through the 2017 campaign, per spotrac.com. He vowed not to engage in contract talks between weeks during the year. Carr hopes to propel the Raiders offense to new heights, but he needs help with offensive balance in the ground attack.
Running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard generated the most buzz during the offseason for the Silver and Black. We already know wideouts Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as heavy contributors on offense. What can the rookie running backs bring, in addition to starter Latavius Murray, to claim victory?
Raiders Keys Victory
- In order to keep pace with the Saints offense, the Raiders need a healthy run-pass balance. Long extended drives keep Brees off the field and a variety of contributors prevent the Saints from keying in on Cooper or Crabtree in the second half.
- Without defensive end Mario Edwards, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. must experiment with defensive line combinations to ensure running back Mark Ingram doesn’t gash the run defense.
- Where’s tight end Clive Walford? A breakout performance against a notoriously soft defense would be a great time to establish a rapport with Carr.
Saints Keys to Victory
- Despite Brees carrying the offense over the past few years, the Saints have to experiment with the ground attack. Why not use running back Tim Hightower up the middle or mix carries for C.J. Spiller with Ingram?
- Offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael should test the Raiders’ new secondary early in case chemistry lacks during the first outing. Oakland fields two new starters, cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson, in the secondary.
- Without Edwards occupying blocks in the trenches, the offensive linemen can focus their attention on building a fort to keep pass-rusher Khalil Mack away from Brees in the pocket. In this case, by any means necessary, double-teams and tight end help on the edge.
Odds
- Point Spread: Oakland at New Orleans (-1)
- Moneyline: Ceasar’s Palace: Oakland +105, New Orleans -125
- Over/Under: 51
Prediction
Don’t consider this an upset. On paper, Oakland fields the better defense equipped to make a stop late in the game. With an improved offensive line and additions at running back, the Silver and Black’s offense should be able to keep pace with the Saints.
Let’s stop creating the Superdome mystique that doesn’t exist right now. In the Saints’ last 16 home games, they’re 7-9, which doesn’t sound like an overwhelming home-field advantage.
Though he’s a rookie, keep an eye on Washington’s ability to catch out of the backfield for the Raiders. He’ll come up huge against the Saints’ poor linebacker corps. Also, starting linebacker Dannell Ellerbe lists as a day-to-day with a quad injury, per the team’s official website.
Carr will exploit the middle of the Saints’ intermediate pass coverage, and Norton’s defense will make a late stop for the victory.
Pick: Oakland Raiders: 30, New Orleans Saints: 27