Oakland Raiders: Week 4 Over/Under predictions vs. Broncos
Who’s going to lead the Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver corps in their Week 4 matchup against the Denver Broncos? What’s the over-under line on sacks?
Oakland Raiders fans expect edge-rusher Khalil Mack to dominate his matchup with right tackle Menelik Watson. We should also take note of Bruce Irvin going against rookie Garett Bolles, who’s playing through a bone bruise. How many sacks will the defense accumulate on Sunday?
Those living in the past will automatically suggest running the ball 30-40 times for the victory. Running back Latavius Murray recorded 20 carries for 114 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos in the previous year.
Denver’s front office and new head coach Vance Joseph have significantly upgraded the run defense. What should we expect from the Raiders ball-carriers?
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree practiced with limitations on Wednesday and Thursday. Wideout Amari Cooper continues to struggle with drops. Who’s going to lead the Raiders pass-catchers in yards against a stingy defense?
More from Las Vegas Raiders
- 5 NFL teams that will definitely disappoint fans in 2023
- 3 Players the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders gave up on way too early
- 2024 NFL Draft: Who picks at the top of the draft in April?
- NFL Predictions: 5 Teams that will be drafting a quarterback in 2024
- 5 NFL Head Coaches that could be fired by the end of the 2023 season
We’ll go through three over-under scenarios for Sunday’s game.
Over or Under 3 Sacks for the Defense?
Through three weeks, the Raiders have six sacks in total. Broncos starting right tackle Menelik Watson has surrendered six alone in his first two games, per Pro Football Focus Elite. As mentioned starting left tackle Garett Bolles will play through an ankle injury in his fourth game as a pro. He’s not listed on the team’s injury report.
Mack and Irvin should feast on the Broncos offensive line with at least four sacks combined. The 29-year old strong-side linebacker could wreak havoc in one-on-one situations against a rookie with the Defensive Player of the Year garnering double- and triple-teams on the opposite side.
When you consider Mario Edwards Jr.’s re-emergence as a pass-rusher and a few safety blitzes from Karl Joseph, the Raiders should comfortably eclipse three sacks against the Broncos.
Verdict: Over
Over or Under 100 rushing yards for the offense?
This isn’t the 2016 Broncos run defense. Oakland won’t dominate in the trenches as fans would hope to see at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver hasn’t allowed more than 75 rushing yards in any of its three games. In the past two weeks, the Broncos have matched up against top-tier offensive lines with elite ball-carriers.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott logged nine carries for eight yards, and Buffalo Bills tailback LeSean McCoy registered 14 carries for 21 yards against the Broncos defense. Defensive end Adam Gotsis‘ development and Domata Peko‘s presence as an incoming free agent helped fill holes up front. They’ve combined for 10 run stops and only one missed tackle through three games, per Pro Football Focus Elite.
The Raiders have a quartet that can wear down a defense, but the combined yardage volume won’t hit the 100-yard mark on Sunday.
Verdict: Under
Over or Under 60 receiving yards for Jared Cook?
In four games against the Broncos, Cooper hasn’t reached 60 receiving yards, and he’s scored just one touchdown. The third-year wideout also comes into the game with six drops. Don’t expect him to lead the receivers in a tough matchup with cornerback Chris Harris Jr.
Crabtree suffered a chest injury after a clean hit in the previous outing. It’s unclear how this will affect him on game day, but he’s still facing a quality cornerback in Aqib Talib. Like Cooper, the 30-year old wide receiver hasn’t reached the 60-yard mark against the Broncos defense. Furthermore, he’s yet to score in a matchup with Denver as a Raider.
Next: NFL 2017: One burning question for each team, Week 4
Expect quarterback Derek Carr to find tight end Jared Cook in the passing attack to poke holes in the Broncos pass defense. As a new addition to the offense, the 30-year-old pass-catcher adds another dimension to an already explosive unit. Oakland needs him to play at optimal levels in Denver.
Cook scored for the first time as a Raider in Week 3. He’ll lead the receiving corps with 70 or more yards and a touchdown in Week 4.
Verdict: Over