The Las Vegas Raiders head into Sunday afternoon still unbeaten, but they’re walking into a New Orleans team that has already made a habit of spoiling expectations in the first two weeks.
Las Vegas opened with a 27-13 win over the Dolphins as a home favorite, then backed that up by going on the road and knocking off the Chargers 26-14 last week. The Saints have matched that energy in their own way, nearly beating the Lions in Week 1 before falling just short on a two-point conversion in overtime, then turning around and grabbing a 24-17 road win in Baltimore as 8.5-point underdogs.
The quarterback matchup is a big reason this one has a little juice. The poor man’s Josh Allen put on a Shough in Baltimore, as the Saints quarterback threw for 252 yards and a score while also rushing for a touchdown in the upset win.
Through two weeks, Shough leads the league with 662 passing yards, along with four touchdowns and two interceptions on 90 attempts. He’ll try to keep that momentum going in the Saints’ home opener against the Raiders.
There’s intrigue on the other side, too. Kirk Cousins has guided the Raiders to two solid wins, and Bowers is set to return after missing the first two games of the season. That gives Las Vegas another layer to work with as it tries to keep its perfect start alive.
The Saints, though, have earned respect by winning twice on the road, and this matchup looks like it could go back and forth. Expect both teams to find the end zone a couple of times in what should be a lively afternoon in New Orleans.
In Other News...
Raiders May Finally Have Help For Maxx Crosby But One Doubt Remains
Malcolm Koonce gave the Raiders a much-needed glimpse of what their pass rush could look like around Maxx Crosby in Week 2 against the Chargers. Working in just 28 defensive snaps, Koonce came away with 1.5 sacks, three tackles, a forced fumble and multiple pressures, while also looking sharper off the line than he did a week earlier. The burst and conditioning were encouraging signs for a player the Raiders need to keep the heat on quarterbacks without asking Crosby to do everything himself.
Koonces showing was strong enough to suggest he can be a useful rotational piece, but the next test is a tougher one. Against top offensive linemen, he still has to close faster and turn pressure into cleaner finishes if the Raiders want their edge rush to rise from promising to dependable. The talent is there, and the recent uptick matters, but this is still the kind of development the Raiders will be tracking closely week to week. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Tucker Just Created A New Raiders Problem For Defenses
Tre Tucker gave the Raiders exactly the kind of jolt theyve been looking for in Week 2 against the Chargers, turning a strong outing into a reminder that Las Vegas has another receiver defenses have to account for. He finished with five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, and his impact went beyond the obvious playmaking, with key receptions and run-blocking helping him stay involved even as attention naturally leaned elsewhere on the offense.
What makes Tuckers surge more interesting is what comes next. Tight end Brock Bowers is expected back soon, and his return could reshape how the Raiders distribute targets and create touches in the passing game. For a team that has been searching for reliable answers, Tucker has suddenly forced a new conversation about how much space there really is for everyone to stay featured. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face A Bigger Marvin Harrison Jr. Question Than Fans Realize
The Raiders are already being linked to a wide receiver upgrade before next season, and the list of possibilities says plenty about how aggressive they may need to be. Trade ideas can always start with the biggest names, and Justin Jefferson naturally sits near the top of that conversation, especially with insider Hondo Carpenter noting there could be some appeal if Jefferson wanted to reunite with coach Klint Kubiak. The problem, of course, is that a player of that stature would cost a massive haul of draft capital, which is the kind of price tag that can reshape a roster as much as it improves one.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is the other name hovering around the discussion, and it comes with a very different kind of uncertainty. The Cardinals receiver has not delivered the level of impact many expected, which is why some around the league could wonder whether he might become available, but Carpenter has expressed skepticism about the fit and the value for Las Vegas. For the Raiders, the question is not just whether Harrison could be pried loose, but whether he would represent the right kind of investment if the team is going to spend real assets to solve a major need. [Read more 🡒]