Las Vegas (3-12) will go up against New Orleans (5-10) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, airing on Fox. According to BetMGM, the Raiders are favored by one point in this matchup. Both teams have struggled against the spread this season, with each team holding a 6-9 record. The series has been evenly matched historically, as it stands at 7-7-1. In their last encounter on October 30, 2023, the Saints dominated the Raiders with a 24-0 victory.
In their last games, the Raiders managed to secure a narrow win over the Jaguars, finishing 19-14, while the Saints faced a worst-case scenario against the Packers, suffering a 34-0 defeat. The Raiders have shown a lack of offensive firepower overall, ranking 28th in the league. Their rushing attack is particularly weak, coming in at 32nd, but they rank higher when it comes to passing at 14th. They have struggled to score, landing 29th in the league. On the defensive side, however, the Raiders have fared better, holding the 12th position overall, with stronger numbers in both rushing (13th) and passing defense (9th), though they rank 27th in scoring defense.
For the Saints, their offense has been a mixed bag, placing 19th overall, with a slightly better rushing attack at 13th. However, their passing game is underwhelming, sitting in 23rd place. On defense, the Saints have been flat-out ineffective, ranking 30th overall in both rushing and passing defense, as well as leveraging a scoring defense ranked tied for 17th. A notable statistic is the turnover differential, with the Raiders sitting at minus-17 and the Saints at minus-1.
Brock Bowers, the standout rookie tight end for the Raiders, is one player to keep an eye on. After an impressive game last week with 11 catches for 99 yards, he now leads the team with a total of 101 receptions and 1,067 receiving yards, along with four touchdowns this season. Conversely, Juwan Johnson has emerged as a key player for the Saints as they navigate injury issues. Johnson ranks second on the team with 38 receptions for 402 yards, having converted from a wide receiver to tight end. He has three touchdown catches this season, placing him third on the team.
A crucial matchup to watch will be between Bowers and the Saints’ defense, particularly the linebackers and safeties who are responsible for keeping him contained. This includes Demario Davis, Peter Werner, Will Harris, and Tyrann Mathieu, who will have the challenging task of stopping one of the league’s top young talents.
In terms of injuries, the Raiders have several players recovering, including guard Jordan Meredith (ankle), linebacker Kana’I Mauga (calf), and guard Jackson Powers-Jordan (quadriceps/ankle). The Saints are facing a longer injury list, with nine players mentioned. Key players that missed practice this week include quarterback Derek Carr (left hand), running back Alvin Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow), and guard Lucas Patrick (knee). Others who were limited during practice include defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye), defensive end Payton Turner (ankle), receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest), and Johnson (foot).
Historically, the Raiders have had the upper hand recently, winning two of their last three contests against the Saints, even though the Saints have won four out of the last six overall encounters. The teams have clashed eight times in New Orleans, with the Saints leading that series 4-3. Their very first game took place back in 1971, resulting in a 21-21 tie at Tulane Stadium.
Statistics reveal that Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed a solid 63.2 percent of his passes last week, throwing for 257 yards without any interceptions. He has managed to avoid throwing interceptions in three of his last four games. Bowers’ impressive performance also adds him to an elite club of rookies, being only the second tight end in NFL history with ten or more catches in four separate games during a single season; he needs just 10 more receiving yards to set a record for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end. Meanwhile, veteran running back Ameer Abdullah is on a hot streak, having recorded a touchdown in two consecutive games.
For the Saints, rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler is struggling, having gone 0-4 as a starter this season despite some flashes of potential, including throwing for 153 yards and rushing for 28. Running back Alvin Kamara remains a key contributor, closing in on another 1,500-yard scrimmage season. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and tight end Foster Moreau are also players to follow, with both making impactful contributions in previous games.
Fantasy players should consider Bowers, who appears poised to excel against a struggling Saints pass defense. As the matchup nears, fans will be eager to see how both teams adapt to their respective challenges on Sunday.
