Las Vegas (2-10) will face off against Tampa Bay (6-6) this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, airing on CBS. The Buccaneers are currently favored by 6.5 points according to BetMGM’s NFL odds. Historically, the Raiders hold a lead in the series with a record of 7 wins to 4 losses, and against the spread, they sit at 5-7, while the Buccaneers have a slightly better record at 7-5. The last matchup ended with Tampa Bay defeating Las Vegas 45-20 on October 25, 2020.
In their most recent games, the Raiders fell short against the Chiefs, losing 19-17 in Kansas City, while the Buccaneers managed to secure a thrilling 26-23 overtime victory against the Panthers in Carolina. Looking at their statistics, the Raiders rank 25th in overall offense, 32nd in rushing, 14th in passing, and 27th in scoring. On defense, they rank 15th overall, 11th against the rush, 14th against the pass, and 28th in scoring allowed. In contrast, the Buccaneers boast the 6th ranked overall offense, 8th in rushing, 6th in passing, and 5th in scoring, while their defense has struggled, ranking 28th overall, 12th against the run, and 30th against the pass.
A key player to watch for the Raiders is linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, who recorded an impressive pressure rate of 42.1% against the Chiefs—making it the highest for a player with a minimum of 15 pass rushing attempts. His ability to create pressure could potentially disrupt Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s connections with his skilled receivers. Meanwhile, for Tampa Bay, rookie running back Bucky Irving has been a standout performer, as he enters this game after back-to-back outings exceeding 150 total yards. Irving leads the team with 732 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 5.5 yards per carry, and he amassed a season-high 185 total yards last week. He currently sits atop the rookie leaderboard with 1,017 scrimmage yards, followed closely by Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
Defensively, the Buccaneers are under pressure to improve if they hope to claim a fourth consecutive NFC South title. Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell showcased his skills with 340 passing yards and two touchdown passes—without any interceptions—during their last game against Kansas City. However, the struggling Raiders offense exhibits the lowest rushing production at 78.1 yards per game and ranks 27th in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game. They also sit at the bottom in turnover differential, currently at minus -17. The Buccaneers, while they rank concerningly against the pass at 30th and have only managed five interceptions this season—none in the last six games—will need to step up their game.
In terms of injuries, the Raiders are monitoring the status of running backs Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Zamir White (quadriceps), alongside cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle). On the Buccaneers’ side, although quarterback Mayfield (Achilles tendon/knee) and Irving (hip/back) are on the injury report, both are expected to be ready for the match. Linebacker K.J. Britt (ankle) and safety Mike Edwards (hamstring) also continue to recover from injuries sustained in the past week.
Notably in their series history, the Raiders have triumphed in seven of their last ten regular-season encounters, while the Buccaneers previously claimed victory in their only playoff meeting, dominating the Raiders with a 48-21 win in the Super Bowl two decades ago. Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, led Tampa Bay to their recent win against Las Vegas in 2020 by a substantial margin.
Focusing on individual performances, Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has become a reliable target, catching two touchdown passes in two out of the last three games. Las Vegas has excelled in limiting rushing yards—giving up an average of only 84 yards over the last five games, the third-best rate in the league. Defensive end Maxx Crosby has been a constant presence, taking every defensive snap during the past six games. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers stands just 24 yards away from reaching 700 receiving yards, aiming to make history as one of the few undrafted free agents to achieve this feat in five of their first six seasons. Since interim coach Antonio Pierce took over midway through last season, the Raiders have averaged only 4.95 penalties per game, which is the third lowest in the league during this timeframe. Furthermore, the Raiders have maintained a streak of consecutive games with sacks, now at 30—a record that ranks third in the league. They have also shown their defensive prowess by batting down 16 passes at the line of scrimmage, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 19.
For fantasy players, the return of Mike Evans has revitalized Tampa Bay’s passing attack, especially after his previous absence due to a hamstring injury. Expect Mayfield to continue relying heavily on Evans, who leads the franchise in receptions and scoring, boasting seven touchdown catches this season. He is on the verge of needing just 21 receptions and 495 yards over the final five games to secure his 11th consecutive season with at least 60 catches and 1,000 receiving yards.
