In their upcoming Week 2 matchup, the 1-0 New Orleans Saints will look to shine on the big stage known as Monday Night Football where they will face the 1-0 Las Vegas Raiders. After a strong defensive performance in their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, the Black and Gold will need to get off to a faster start offensively and maintain their defensive prowess against a Raiders team that has many offensive weapons.
The Raiders have struggled in seasons past to live up to their potential. After a gutsy Week 1 victory, Las Vegas head coach Jon Gruden’s team will be hungry to make a statement Monday night and open the “Death Star” Allegiant Stadium with a bang.
Here are three things fans should know about the Raiders:
1). QB Derek Carr shouldn’t be taken lightly
It appears easy to forget that Carr was a potential NFL MVP candidate before an injury that might have changed his career trajectory. He had a solid Week 1 performance of 239 yards and a touchdown but more importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over. The Fresno State product got a Pro Football Focus grade of 69.5, ranking him 15th among quarterbacks.
In his last meeting with the Saints, the Bakersfield California native passed for 319 yards and a touchdown for a 98.5 rating. Carr has passed for 1,685 yards (337 per game) and 11 touchdowns for a 108.9 rating in five career games vs. NFC South teams. It will be important for the Saints’ defense to apply the pressure early and force some quick throws that could play into their stingy secondary’s hands.
2). Converting on third down and red zone efficiency is not a problem for the Raiders
The Raiders converted six out of 11 third-down attempts to start the season and they are ranked No. 1 in the NFL in offensive third-down conversion percentage (54.55%). In addition to their success in sustaining drives, Gruden’s team is ranked 12th after one week in red zone scoring percentage (TD only), converting 75 percent of the time.
New Orleans defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s group is a physical, aggressive and opportunistic one that managed to stifle QB Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, coming away with multiple turnovers that resulted in 14 points for the Black and Gold. That said, the Saints will need their offense to get off to a better start to remain fresh for a Las Vegas team that can do a combination of things offensively.
3). RB Josh Jacobs is a top-tier running back
Last season, Jacobs had a season for the record books as he set the Raiders’ all-time rushing record for a rookie with 1,150 yards. In week one made history again when the former Alabama standout scored the first touchdown in Las Vegas Raiders history on Sunday. Jacobs saw 29 touches and turned those opportunities into 139 yards and three touchdowns.
Because of his strong Week 1 performance, Jacobs was nominated for the FedEx NFL Ground Player of the. He earned a 70.4 grade from Pro Football Focus after scoring three touchdowns to open the season. It will be crucial for the Saints defense to be sound in their techniques and sure in their tackling because Jacobs can most certainly make tacklers pay.