It’s Monday Night: Keys to Beating Atlanta

The Raiders faced the NFC South last week and got dominated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s not a lot of bright spots from that game. 

Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers did their thing. Michael Mayer was the surprise leader in yards and average per catch. Terrace Marshall even got into the box score. All those guys need to show up this week. 

RB Sincere McCormick has brought a surge to this offense. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry last week and looked better than all the Raiders runners combined. Let’s see what he looks like in a game with 20+ carries. 

Now, the Atlanta Falcons come to town. The Raiders will again be without Aidan O’Connell, despite them playing us with the possibility he could return. Ridder spent the first few years of his career in Atlanta, before they moved on to other options. 

Atlanta has lost four games in a row. They went from looking like a contender to a team that might need a QB change. 

Regardless, the Raiders will be without Maxx Crosby for this week and the rest of the season. It’s time for Tyree Wilson to show some development. He still sometimes looks lost but he has tools and flashes. 

Otherwise, the Raiders kept the game close thanks to some interceptions from Jack Jones and K’Lavon Chaisson. The Raiders also sacked the QB four times. They need all that action again to prevent a blow out at home. 

Further, the Falcons got blown out on the road last week. Before that they failed to score more than 17 points in the three games prior. They’ll look to get back on track with an explosive offense that features TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London, WR Darnell Mooney, RB Tyler Allegeier and RB Bijan Robinson. 

The Falcons size and speed out of the backfield means the Raiders tackling ability will again get tested. Mooney has the speed outside to push the Raiders’ secondary, while London has the size to beat all the Raiders corners in contested situations. We know the Raiders can’t cover TEs and Pitts brings x-factor ability no matter how inconsistent he is. 

In the end, Vegas needs to pressure Kirk Cousins into mistakes. They need to stay disciplined against all of Atlanta’s playmakers. They can’t make it easy with penalties and they can’t get down if they give up big plays. Plus, Vegas needs to create some turnovers. 

Offensively, Vegas needs to control the clock at home and protect their mediocre QB play. Expect them to spread the ball around to their various receivers. Ideally, they probably need to hit with a big strike too. Think about hitting Tre Tucker deep, again, like a few weeks ago. 

Some folks might think what do the Raiders have to play for? They’re eliminated in the playoffs should and the draft should be the focus. They’re not wrong, but you don’t want to build a culture around losing. The Raiders need to evaluate every player’s roster position, that includes the coach. It’s hard to see a world where head coach Antonio Pierce continues after a winless division record. However, he can get these guys right for the next coach and show some promise for his next gig. 

Either way, it’s Monday Night and nobody wants to see the Silver and Black embarrassed in Atlanta. 

How the Raiders can have Better Luck in Florida

The Raiders pissed down their own leg on Black Friday. They literally fumbled the bag on the last play of what should have been an upset win. Instead, they went home with buyers’ remorse.

Antonio Pierce might have been right when he said this team is allergic to winning. Unfortunately, that might not save his job. At the very least, the team showed up and competed on the special edition broadcast.

Vegas finally cracked 100 rushing yards. They honestly should have given the ball to Sincere McCormick more. Aidan O’Connell threw two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Tre Tucker made a big deep catch. Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers were consistent. Meyers flirted with 100 receiving yards while Bowers racked up 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. This felt llike the first time the Raiders offense showed life in weeks. Yet, they left too many points on the board. Chris Jones’ two sacks were also a huge difference-maker.

Defensively, the four sacks were crucial. Mahomes only threw one TD and registered 20 incompletions. No player caught more than 100 receiving yards. Kansas City did not have a hundred-yard rusher. You can’t ask for a better game from the Raiders. They kept the offense off the field. K’Lavon Chaisson resurged with 1.5 sacks. Let’s see if he can help them again versus better tackles this week.

The Raiders don’t need any moral victories or help securing a draft pick. They need to reverse their losing culture.

Now, they travel to the East Coast. Tampa Bay features a top-ten passing and rushing offense. Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton offer tough match ups the Raiders coverage. Mike Evans is a living legend at receiver, Baker Mayfield has played hero versus us before and receiver Jalen McMillan had had flashes. This game could get ugly fast, especially if the Raiders come out flat. You remember the stinker they played versus the Dolphins the last time they went to Florida.

Linebacker Yaya Diaby, DB Antoine Winfield Jr. and defensive lineman Vita Vea give the Buccaneers a playmaker at each level of the defense. The Raiders offensive line had one of its best week, minus the last offensive play. Hopefully, they can carry that momentum.

The game plan should remain the same. Vegas needs to convert some big plays in the air. The Raiders need to control the clock with their running game. Ride Sincere and Abdullah. Some more help from special teams, again, would be be great. Keeping Baker Mayfield uncomfortable and forcing him into turnovers helps too.

Even if the Raiders should play for a draft pick, Raiders fans deserve a victory Monday. No let downs or blow outs this week. Execution is key for the Raiders to compete today.

Leave it all out there versus the Chiefs

There is not a lot to be grateful for this year as a Raiders fan. The Raiders came out and competed last week. They still came up short versus the Broncos. They lost their QB and their biggest plays came on special teams.

Regardless, they have nothing to lose this week versus the Chiefs. It is the best team versus the worst team. Aiden O’Connell is back.

I promise you, Antonio Pierce won’t keep his job if he goes winless in the AFC West. He has two more division games left and this one is on the road.

The Raiders need to pull out every trick play. They need some turnovers and bounces to go their way. We know they are going to force the ball to Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. They need to find ways to run the ball and control the clock.

Vegas beat this team in Kansas City last year. That was a fifferent team no matter how much broadcast brings it up. They need to leave it out on the field to do it this year.

Don’t let Denver beat you again

The Raiders got ran last week. They looked overmatched versus a desperate Dolphins team.

Now, they’re playing a Denver team that beat them this season. It was the first time the Raiders lost to the Broncos in years.

Denver starts a rookie quarterback. Their run game has been up and down. This defense is super stout despite the lack of big names.

The Raiders have a winnable game in front of them. Some folks may want them to lose to move up in the NFL Draft order. Personally, I am tired of losing. I don’t want to give a win to a division foe. Don’t forget this Broncos team was as bad as we were last season. Some how they have once again flipped the script. They leaped frog us in the rebuild and the standings.

At this point, it is about playing for some pride. Again, we want to see the team respond under Antonio Pierce. We want to see a spark on offense and effort on defense. They need to establish some sort of identity.

Run the ball, rush the QB, create some turnovers and don’t settle for field goals. That’s all I got.

The Raiders are once again looking for a rebound win. This time they need to beat a Miami Dolphins team that is on the upswing. The Dolphins dominated Los Angeles last week, even more than the score indicated. Miami looks like a different team with Tua back at QB.

The Dolphins RB duo of Devon Achane and Raheem Mostert is among the most balanced in the league. Both are capable of big slashes and dashes in the run game. Las Vegas must step up in coverage, particularly when Achane is a receiver put of the backfield.

Moreover, Tyrek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are explosive on the outside. Rookie Malik Washington has had flashes. Odell is there as a veteran. The Raiders secondary has stepped up this season but this will be one of their bigger tests.

The Raiders secondary is going to have to make a play to counter Miami’s defense. Trevon Moehrig is having his best season. Hopefully, he can net another pick this week and not get beat deep. Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo need to stay discipline. This is the week where they can get trashed by screens and drags. All that starts with getting home to Tuaand making him uncomfortable.

Still, it doesn’t help that the Raiders are on the road. You never know how they will play when they travel to the East Coast.

Either way, the Raiders are healthy defensively. Maxx Crosby needs to bring his usual disruption. We also need to look at Tyree Wilson to develop a more consistent pass rush plan out of the bye. He has some tools but he is still very hot and cold. Veterans John Jenkins and Adam Butler need to set the tempo by being stout versus the run early.

Offensively, we know the Raiders want to get the ball to Brock Bowers. Miami brings one of the better safety duos with Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. On the outside, Jakobi Meyers draws Jalen Ramsey. Vegas is going to have to find creative ways to get the ball to Meyers via trick plays.

Otherwise, we have all been waiting for this running attack to show some life. They will be without their starting center Andre James. However, Jackson Powers-Johnson can bring them an extra surge at the point of attack from the center position. This offensive line will get tested. Calais Campbell keeps defying time. He is stout against the run especially. Veteran DE Emmanuel Ogbah has also looked good in spots.

Miami also has Anthony Walker and Jordyn Brooks. Both get to the ball. They are more limited in coverage but have tools to cover the reserve TEs.

In the end, it seems corny to say Antonio Pierce is coaching for his job every week. The truth is, his fate may be inevitable. Every bad loss inches him closer to getting fired while each win atleast keeps him in the middle ground for a bit longer. It’s a tough position to be in given that the Raiders need a lot of help in the upcoming NFL Draft. Winning only lowers their chances at landing a future QB.

Nonetheless, we heard the rumblings about a team only meeting. Let’s see the fruits of that labor with a hard fought performance. The last thing Pierce or any Raiders fan wants to see, is a team come out slow on the road after a buy. If they still struggle to drive down the field after making many changes on offense, Pierce could easily lose the lockerroom and front office.

All that aside, the Raiders need to show some kind of identity. Ideally, we want them to runthe ball, push the ball down the field, create turnovers and get sacks. If they do that, they can spark a run over the rest of the season. However, we have yet to see Vegas do any of those four things consistently all season. Let’s just hope they left that all behind them in the Bye Week.

How to beat the Bengals

The Raiders lost another close game that could have easily been much worse. Yes, they picked off Pat Mahomes but there wasn’t much else for good news.

Still, it was great to see the Raiders play with pride after a tough loss the week prior. It seems like the locker room is still responding to head coach Antonio Pierce. Of course, that could easily change if they don’t generat offense soon.

Vegas failed to establish the tun. Neither Zamir White nor Alexander Mattison could average more than a yard per carry. Vegas did get the ball to Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers. Both caught more than 5 catches.

Vegas will start rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson at center this week since Andre James is out. He should add some surge at the point of attack for the run game. Dylan Parham is questionable to play. That could hamper the running game more.

The Raiders also gave up five sacks last week. They can’t do that this week versus the Bengals. Cincinnati is among the league’s worst at sacking the QB. Kansas City was in a similar spot before breaking out versus the Raiders last week. This Bengals veteran defensive line is quick and stout.

Vegas’ offensive line and running game needs to perform better if they want to control games. Cincinnati is desperate to string together wins. Otherwise, they will fall too far behind the pack in the AFC North.

Luckily, Bengals receiver Tee Higgins will be out with injury. The Bengals have not been great on the run either. Their defense has also taken a step back.

Regardless, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase has the size and speed to give the Raiders problems all day. Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow is a threat over the top and he is sneaky with his rushing ability. We know the Raiders can’t cover tight ends and Bengals TE Mike Gesicki is a sleeper.

Raiders edge Tyree Wilson finally got into the sack column last week. Wilson needs to keep developing. Maxx Crosby will be back this week. They will have their work cutout versus a mobile Burrow and an improved offensive line. Cincinnati is in the middle of the pack for sacks allowed. The Bengals will be down starter Orlando Brown at left tackle. Their right tackle is also a rookie.

In the end, the Raiders need to get after the quarterback, limit big plays in the pass game and stay disciple against the run. Last week, a turnover kept them in the game. They can do it again this week.

Offensively, it would be great for the Raiders to get the running game going. We would all love a pass play for more than ten yards too. I am not sure if this offense is capable of either, but they need to show some progress soon. It would not surprise me if they move on from OC Luke Getsy if the offense struggles. The Raiders need to show some offensive progress headed into the Bye Week.

The Raiders could play the Bengals tight as they did the Chiefs and Rams. They could suffer a let down like they did versus the Broncos and Panthers. We won’t know, especially in an early game outside.

Vegas could be only a few big plays from losing bad. They could also dominate a team that is struggling across the board.

Again, the Raiders need to play their brand of football. Run the ball, push the ball down the field, take advantage of turnovers and don’t allow any big plays. Let’s just stop the bleeding and get a win.

Please show some heart versus the Chiefs this week

Last week’s blog was fitting for the Raiders’ performance. Although the Raiders only lost by a score, they never really felt in control.

Silver and Black roamed all over SoFi but it wasn’t enough for the team to deliver. The scary part is, this team seems to be regressing and moving in the wrong direction.

Yes, Adams is gone but he has been hurt all year anyways. Now, the team needs a WR, QB and a RB too. This team needs to find answers quick as the Chiefs come to town.

Kansas City has looked like its best version of itself. Kareem Hunt has had a resurgance. The team just traded for DeAndre Hopkins. He and Travis Kelce have both torn up the Raiders in the past. Xavier Worthy is lightning quick. This is not the same team the Raiders beat last year.

Don’t forget Kansas City fields a fast defense that is stout against the run. The Raiders need Zamir White to look as good as he did last year when they beat they Chiefs. Alexander Mattison has been good for some chunk plays, including pass receptions out of the backfield.

Vegas also needs to sprinkle in some trick plays. Jakobi Meyers is back this week. He and Tre Turner can turn trick plays into explosive gains.

Defensively, the Raiders have to pressure Mahomes. Their DBs have actually been solid this year. If they can find a way to force Patrick Mahomes into a mistake, they have a chance.

Again, expect the Chiefs to try and wear the Raiders down with the run. They’ll try to convert on big plays too.

The Raiders don’t need to re-invent the wheel this week. They need to control the clock with the run game and keep the Chiefs defense off the field. They need to force turnovers and get home to the quarterback. Vegas needs to convert big plays and stay discipline against big plays from the Chiefs.

Either way, the Raiders just need to play with some heart. If they can rebound this week, it looks good on Antonio Pierce. However, another loss means they’ve dropped a game to the entire division. And they lost two additional LA home games. None of that is great for his job stability. A win here gives them at least some hope for .500. Stop the bleeding and Just Win Baby!

Recaping the Donkeys and Keys to Beating the Steelers

The Raiders got smoked last week and gave up their first lost to the Broncos since moving to Las Vegas. Denver pretty much controled the game the entire time. Now, they jump ahead of .500 and hold a valuable lead over the Raiders in the AFC West.

Gardner Minshew threw two interceptions. He got yanked for Aidan O’Connell. The Broncos defense looked elite with Riley Moss and Patrick Surtain both getting picks.

Brock Bowers was the most reliable target and caught a touchdown. Jakobi Meyers was by far the best receiver on the outside with Davante Adams out.

Reports indicate Adams could play for Vegas again as soon as his hamstring gets right. Either way, a trade probably still makes sense for both sides.

Otherwise, the Raiders did do so much on the ground. Ameer Abdullah popped off for some bursts but Alexander Mattison was largely ineffective as the starting runner.

Maxx Crosby ended up playing and registered two sacks. Christian Wilkins also got his first solo sack of the year. Unfortunately, Wilkins is now hurt and slated to miss the year. That’s a huge loss given all the money they spent on him in the offseason. He really helped the whole defense. Now, John Jenkins and Adam Butler need to step up again. Vegas needs Tyree Wilson to develop ASAP as well.

Regardless, Bo Nix still played one of his best games as a pro. Nix threw two TDs, over 200 yards and only had 8 incompletions. The Raiders needed to capitalize on a Nix mistake but it never came. Denver also got over 100 scrimmage yards from Javonte Williams. He averaged nearly 5 yards-per-carry on the ground too.

Now, they play a tough Pittsburgh team off two tight losses. The Steelers narrowly lost to the Dallas Cowboys last week. Rico Dowdle popped off for 87 rushing yards while Dak Prescott threw for over 300 passing yards. It really could have gotten uglier if the Steelers did not get two interceptions and a couple of sacks.

Offensively, Justin Fields was again the team’s biggest playmaker. Najee Harris barely averaged three yards-per-carry. Fields rushed for 27 yards and threw two touchdowns, despite only throwing for 131 yards. Look for him to try and find George Pickens early and often. Pickens was held to just three catches last week.

The previous week, Pickens caught 7 balls for 113 yards. Fields put up over 50 rushing yards and 300 passing yards. He added three total touchdowns in that one-score loss too. That is still the kind of performance they want from them versus the Raider.

Otherwise, the Raiders have been a mixed bag at home. One week they looked great versus the Browns and the other week they got smacked by the Panthers. It is still unclear who this team is given how much drama and injuries have impacted the team.

A win over an old-school rival could help the Raiders steady the ship at 3-3. A loss here could also bury either team’s Wild Card hopes in a loaded AFC. Remember, Vegas lost in Pittsburgh last year. That ended up making a huge difference at the end of the year. Jimmy G, never recovered and the coaching staff never recovered from some bad calls.

Ultimately, the Raiders are tasked with both applying pressure to Fields and keeping contain. That will be harder without Wilkins pushing the pocket.

Pickens and Calvin Austin will challenge the Raiders’ speed outside. Both teams struggle to make big plays. The Raiders defense must play discipline and not give up anything easy. A turnover from either team could also be the difference.

The Raiders defense get s back Divine Deablo this week. He should help them defend the backfield against Harris. Harris might not be elite but he is big and strong. The Bay Area native loves going after a team he watched growing up.

These games are also always really close. Expect both teams to try and establish the run. Whatever unit can control the clock, will control the game. A big running play always means momentum in a physical game like this. An effective running game could keep the Raiders out of unmanageable third downs. That is a big key considering the struggles the team has at QB.

Again, if the Raiders can run the ball and play stout defense they have a shot. Big plays and/or turnovers will be the difference maker for both teams. The Raiders have a shot if they can establish their identity and fhe running game. Otherwise, they’re looking at falling to 2-4 with no QB and franchise receiver that wants out.

In some ways, this game could be our Super Bowl. Just Win Baby!

Here We Go Again + Keys to Beating the Broncos

Another year, another star player going scorched earth. Yes, the Raiders pulled out an impressive home victory after looking dead in the water. And Davante Adams reportedly wants a trade.

At this point, Raiders fans should be numb to dysfunction. This ain’t quite Randy Moss, Amari Cooper or Antonio Brown. It is dissapointing to hear Adamas wants out after he said he would retire in the Silver and Black.

Still, Raiders fans have to be realistic. Was this team really going to win a Super Bowl with Adams? Not with what they have at QB. Therefore, trading Adams makes sense. The Raiders proved this week they can win without him. Trading him feels even more right if the Raiders can get a first round pick. That is more than Stefon Diggs got traded for. Obviously, that ends the nice home narrative.

Trading Adams for more than a second round pick feels like an unlikely scenario though. Adams wants a trade to the Saints or Jets. He wants to play with his old QBs. However, neither of those teams really need a receiver. Dallas makes sense but their season seems to be going a different direction. Pittsburgh might also make a call, but their QB situation is only slightly better than the Raiders.

Head coach Antonio Pierce proved he didn’t lose the locker room yet. This drama is a red flag, considering Adams was in Pierce’s corner. More players could easily turn on Pierce if the losses keep coming.

Last week, the team found a way to make enough plays versus the Browns. Cleveland could’ve easily won that game but they didn’t. Alexander Mattison was really the ex-factor as he popped off some big runs. He will get the start with Zach Moss out. Mattison struggled as the starter in Minnesota last year. He may hurt against a tough Denver defense if the offense can’t stretch the field. The Broncos allowed the 12th most rushing yards this season.

Gardner Minshew needs to be more effective this week. He only completed 14 passes for 130 yards. Minshew threw no interceptions or touchdowns. He has to step his game up with Adams out for another game. Brock Bowers only caught a couple of passes. He needs a better week too. Denver allowed the third least passing yards this year.

The Raiders’ offensive line forfeited two sacks to Myles Garrett. That is expected with the injuries they had at tackle. Kolton Miller should be back this week, even if Thayer Munford is out. The pass rush should improve this week since the Broncos don’t have an elite rusher like Garrett.

Otherwise, we saw Brock Bowers get a rush attempt last week. Let’s see the Raiders sprinkle in some trickery with Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers. If the offense struggles to get them the ball downfield, try to get them the ball with some blockers in front.

Overall, this week should feature a defensive battle. Denver is off a win where they threw for less than 100 yards. They did find Courtland Sutton for a TD reception. His size could give the Raiders problems.

Vegas also needs to stop the run. Last week, both Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams averaged over 4.5 yards-per-carry. Ideally, they offer a blend of power and explosiveness. They combined for 123 rushing yards against a stout Jets defense.

The Raiders manufactured pass rush last week. Janarius Robinson and Christian Wilkins split a sack. Charles Snowden and Isaiah Pola-Mao got home too. Vegas needs similar contributions across the board this week.

Safety Trevon Moehrig came up big with an interception last week. It was one of Watson’s only mistakes in the entire game. The Raiders need more plays from their DBs this week. They also don’t want to make it easy with any blown coverages. Vegas almost gave up a huge passing play to Amari Cooper.

Denver fields a young QB who doesn’t take a lot of chances. The Raiders need to stay discipline rushing the passer. Apply pressure but don’t force Bo Nix into 8 rush attempts like they did Watson.

We will find out who the Raiders are this week. Will this offense find a spark with Adams out? Can Mattison claim the starting RB role with White out? Do they trade Adams or find a way to work it out? Are the Raiders the team that edged out the Ravens and Browns? Or are they the team that got outclassed by the Panthers and Chargers?

The Raiders need to establish the run and find ways to spread the ball around to a variety of play makers. They will need to nickel and dime this stingy Denver Defense. Corner Patrick Surtain has an edge on every Raiders receiver, with Adams out.

Defensively, the Raiders will again need to get creative to generate pass rush. Crosby leaves a crater on the defense, but Tyree Wilson needs to step up. Robinson and Snowden are great stories but we can only rely on them so much. Wilkins needs to dominate against the run and pass. All the Raiders need to tackle well against a slippery Denver backfield. Vegas needs to play physical versus an equally desperate AFC West rival.

A win here steadies the Raiders against all these distractions. Losing sets them back more in the standings and they lose leverage with Adams. They have a tough stretch of schedule before their bye week in a month.

Ultimately, the Raiders need to establish their identity against the Broncos. Denver has yet to beat the Vegas Raiders. There is no need to start now.

Last Week was a Joke but this Game versus the Browns is not

Last week was a total abomination. There is no reason to lose to a desperate Carolina Panthers team. I don’t care if Andy Dalton took a stroll back to his Bengals’ days. The head coach’s lack of accountability after did not help.

Tackling was an issue in the run game. The offense has yet to find any consistency outside of two quarters in Baltimore.

Talk about business decisions and effort. Aren’t these the same players that banged the table for AP? Jack Jones’ performance last year damn near got AP the job. Now, Jones is being called out for his effort?

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The only thing that adds up is that it keeps happening to us. Between the bad drafting and coaching, it looks like the Raiders are wasting the primes of Maxx Crosby and Davante Adams. Both will be out with injuries these week. The Raiders will also be down their starting tackle and some other key rotational pieces.

All in all, the Raiders will show their true identity this week. Are they the team that willed their way to a win over an underperforming Baltimore Ravens team? Are they the squad that got clipped by the Panthers? Will they bounce back and respond for Antonio Pierce?

Another blowout loss would be almost as bad as Detroit last season. Down his top players, AP is coaching for his job. I am not saying they will fire him after this game, but a 1-3 start does not sxream playoff contendee. Double that if the team loses and/or loses bad here. Contract obligations alone should keep Pierce safe. I doubt the Raiders pay another coach to not coach again this soon. However, they might if it gwrs much uglier.

Either way, I get on here every week and write the same keys in a different column. Vegas needs to push the ball, control the clock with the run game, create turnovers and sack the QB. This is Raiders’ football and the brand AP pitched to us. If they do play this style, they are tough to beat. Unfortunately, that style is also hard to play with many players hurt.

That is also the problem. The Raiders draft like they’re a single player away each year. They sign mid-level free agents like they have so much talent on their roster. Last week was a reminder that rosters in the NFL are closer than they appear. Vegas may need an actual full rebuild if they stumble any lower.

Luckily, the Browns have problems of their own. Tight end David Njoku will sit, which is a relief for the Raiders. Tackles Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills are both ouf. Starting guard Joel Bitonio, running back Jerome Ford and backup tackle Dawand Jones are all banged up. Even if they play, the Raiders defense should benefit from this hobbled attack.

Cleveland starts QB DeShaun Watson. Watson is again in off-field distractions. However, he does have Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy. Both players have had their success versus the Raiders’ in the past. It is hard to imagine a bounce-back game given how great Carolina’s receivers looked last week. Then again, maybe that is why coached called out the Vegas defense.

Defensively, Cleveland is not playing at the same level as last year. But they are still stout with Myles Garrett and Za’darius Smith on the edge. Former Raiders Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris play opposite Dalvin Tomlinson. The Raiders’ interior offensive line needs to step up. Zamir White has not done anything through three games.

In the secondary, the Browns have yet to register an interception. All five starters registered INTs last year. Not the case this year but that could change. Especially with Adams out, guys like Denzel Ward can take bigger chances.

At this point, the Raiders need to lean on Brock Bowers heavy. He is the biggest mismatch on the field. They also should look to get Jakobi Meyers or Tre Tucker going early with some trick plays.

Vegas canot afford any turnovers given the missing fire power. At home, they need to get their ground game in rythm.

Defensively, it all comes down to the defensive line. Vegas must apply pressure versus the banged up Cleveland line. Christian Wilkins needs to earn every bit of his huge contract with Crosby out. Perhaps we see him at end even. Tyree Wilson needs to play like a top-10 pick from a year ago. He needs to use his hands and find fhe ball.

Otherwise, Janarius Robinson has been a nice find. John Jenkins and Adam Butler were similar vet finds last year. Butler and Jenkins should be relied on even more versus the Browns. Cleveland is going to at least try and establish the run.

Finally, the Raiders secondary needs to find a way to make a play. They need to tackle well and play discipline. After last week, this unit needs to be perfecf.

In the end, the gameplan should not change much. Last week was a gutcheck moment. Will Vegas bounce back or will they fall further into losing habits? This is an even bigger game since it is against a better team, the Raiders are coming off a loss and this is a conference game.

Regardless, Vegas does need to show some heart at home. Just Win Baby!