Special Edition: Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (Analysis and Pick)
-- Written by Danny the Geek
The New England Patriots will take on the on the Las Vegas Raiders in a matchup that features two of the premier teams in the AFC. After a loss for New England and a win for Las Vegas in their last games, both teams are looking for something to prove.
For the Patriots, it’s to show everyone that they are still a top dog in the AFC. For Las Vegas, it’s to show the National Football League that they are indeed for real. What are the odds and how should you spend your money? Don’t worry, we have that covered.
Odds are as of Friday night from SPREADS.CA
Patriots fall short again Seahawks
In their last timeout, the New England Patriots narrowly lost to the Seattle Seahawks by a 35-30 margin. For the Patriots, quarterback Cam Newton played well. He went 30-of-44 on the evening, throwing for 397 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
He also managed to lead the Patriots in rushing, carrying the ball 11 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns. In terms of receiving, wide receiver Julian Edelman was a security blanket for Newton. He caught eight passes for 179 yards, proving to be a top target for Newton. N’Keal Harry also played well. He caught eight passes for 72 yards. Nevertheless, a goal line stop by the Seahawks on the final play of the game prevented a New England victory.
Las Vegas opens in style
Las Vegas Raiders opened up their new digs in Sin City with a victory. Defeating Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints by a 34-24 margin, Derek Carr played well. The quarterback went 28-of-38 on the afternoon, throwing for 284 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Jacobs was a big factor for Las Vegas on the ground, carrying the ball 27 times for 88 yards.
The biggest story of the game was tight end Darren Waller. He caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.
The biggest key for New England…
Heading into this game, the Patriots need to stop Waller. He has proven to be an absolute monster for Las Vegas ever since he came onto the scene. They can do that by jamming him, putting multiple defenders on him, and putting pressure on Carr. If they don’t, it could be a long afternoon. He is basically another receiver, and he has the speed to make big plays.
The biggest key for Las Vegas…
The Raiders need to play New England’s weapons tightly. From Julian Edelman, to N’Keal Harry, and Damiere Byrd, Cam Newton has been able to work with all three in particular at a high level.
Oakland needs to make sure that they get pressure to Newton as well as play those three tightly. Allowing them to get space and the upper hand on routes can make for a long afternoon. The combination of pressure in the pocket and tightly covering the receivers could be a recipe for success for Las Vegas.
The Bottom Line…
For this game, I feel comfortable taking the Patriots (-120) with the spread at -5.5. Although Las Vegas is a capable team, New England has looked like they have begun to gain a rhythm in their offense. Defensively, their corners should be better, especially following a rough outing against Seattle last weekend. Although Vegas has weapons to contend with, experienced outside wide receivers could be their downfall in this game.
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