Patriots
The Raiders have some acquainted faces on their roster along with having one of many league’s prime receivers and defensive gamers.
Because the Patriots are in determined want of a win, they’ll go up in opposition to a Raiders workforce with a combined bag of expertise and loads of acquainted faces.
Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels continues to be the top coach of the Raiders following a disappointing first season with the workforce. Their quarterback and considered one of their main receivers are each former Patriots, too.
In addition they have one of many sport’s prime receivers and defensive gamers on the roster, serving to the workforce keep afloat with a 2-3 document up to now.
Listed here are seven Raiders gamers to look at when the Patriots take them on in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Jimmy Garoppolo
The previous Patriots quarterback isn’t off to the best begin to his Raiders profession.
Las Vegas has gone 2-2 within the 4 video games Garoppolo’s began. Nonetheless, he’s additionally thrown a league-high seven interceptions this season regardless of lacking the Raiders’ sport in opposition to the Chargers in Week 4. He’s additionally accomplished 68.8 % of his passes this season for 917 yards on 7.3 yards per try and 6 touchdowns.
Garoppolo might be capable to repair his turnover luck on Sunday, although. He goes up in opposition to a Patriots secondary that has recorded one interception thus far this season, tied for final within the league. New England’s protection can also be tied for final in turnovers, forcing simply two thus far this season because it hasn’t recorded a turnover in its final three video games.
Josh Jacobs
Final season’s main rusher has appeared something however that via the primary 5 video games of the season.
Jacobs has rushed for 235 yards on a measly 2.9 yards per carry thus far this season, a giant purpose why the Raiders rank thirtieth in yards per carry (3.1) thus far this season. In fact, it needs to be famous that Jacobs missed the whole thing of coaching camp and the preseason as he held out to get a brand new contract, which he finally received.
However thus far, Jacobs is a far cry from final yr’s model of himself. That’s clearly a very good factor for the Patriots, who allowed Jacobs to hurry for 93 yards on 4.2 yards per carry in final season’s matchup between the 2 groups.
Whereas New England’s rush protection ranks in the course of the pack thus far this season (108 dashing yards per sport, sixteenth within the NFL), it’s executed nicely by way of effectivity. The Patriots are eighth in yards per carry allowed, letting opposing rushers go for 3.3 yards per carry this season.
Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers
The Raiders’ prime two receivers have arguably been probably the greatest receiving tandems within the NFL thus far this season.
Adams having this sturdy of a season is nothing new. He’s been one of many league’s finest receivers over the previous few seasons, making first-team All-Professional in every of the final three years. He has 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and a league-best 14 touchdowns in his first season with the Raiders final yr.
However Adams didn’t have too sturdy of a efficiency in opposition to the Patriots final season within the midst of his dominant 2022. He solely had 4 receptions on 9 targets for 28 yards within the Week 15 matchup between the 2 groups. Nonetheless, Marcus Jones was the first defender on Adams in final season’s matchup and the second-year nook is on injured reserve nonetheless because of a shoulder damage.
Adams has 37 receptions for 442 yards and three touchdowns in his first season catching passes from Garoppolo.
Meyers, in the meantime, has carried out in the same function that Patriots followers had been used to seeing him taking part in throughout his 4 seasons in New England. Reunited with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the slot receiver is on tempo to have the very best season of his profession. He has 25 receptions for 274 yards and three touchdowns in 4 video games, lacking Week 2 because of a concussion. He’s presently on tempo for 85 receptions, 932 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns, one thing the Patriots definitely might use.
Adams and Meyers could have one other good alternative to do harm in Week 6. They go up in opposition to a depleted Patriots’ secondary. Along with Marcus Jones’s damage, Jack Jones and Christian Gonzalez are additionally on injured reserve, which means New England is with out three of its prime 4 corners getting into the season. Jonathan Jones continues to be coping with an ankle damage, which stored him out for 3 video games earlier than returning final week. Kyle Dugger was additionally restricted in apply this week because of a foot damage.
Maxx Crosby
The 26-year-old defensive finish has been a do-it-all power for the Raiders once more this season.
Crosby has adopted up his career-best 12.5-sack season in 2022 with 5 sacks within the first 5 video games of 2023, recording a sack in all however one sport thus far.
What could be a extra spectacular stat although is his variety of pressures. Crosby has 34 pressures, posting practically seven per sport, which is the second-best mark within the NFL, based on Professional Soccer Focus.
Crosby rounds out his sport by additionally being one of many league’s finest run stoppers alongside the defensive position. He has 28 mixed tackles this season and is credited with a team-best 15 run stops, through PFF. He additionally has a 40 % run-stop win charge, which is the second-best mark amongst all edge rushers within the league.
That’s clearly a serious downside for the Patriots to go up in opposition to as their offense has executed nothing nicely the final couple of weeks. Their offensive line has ranked among the many worst within the NFL in a number of metrics thus far this season. They’re thirtieth in pass-block win charge (44 %) and have had points at proper sort out all season lengthy, the place Crosby sometimes traces up reverse of.
Marcus Peters
Just like the Patriots, the Raiders are additionally coping with accidents of their secondary.
Fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett, who has began 4 video games at nook this season, is questionable after lacking final week’s sport with a shoulder damage. Beginning slot nook Nate Hobbs is out because of an ankle damage.
That leaves Peters as the one common Raiders beginning nook that’s sure to play on Sunday. The veteran nook made a reputation for himself early in his nine-year profession by being one of many league’s finest interception-getters.
Peters isn’t that very same nook. He solely had one interception in 13 video games with the Ravens final season and has but to document an interception thus far in 2023. However he’s largely stored opposing receivers in verify this season, permitting only one reception for longer than 25 yards (a 72-yard landing move from Kenny Pickett to Calvin Austin III).
Tre’Von Moehrig
The third-year security has been energetic for the Raiders thus far this season.
Moehrig has 26 mixed tackles (21 solo) with a sack and an interception.
After permitting a landing in every of the primary two video games, Moehrig’s stable in move protection over the previous few weeks. He wasn’t focused in any respect in protection in Week 3 in opposition to the Steelers and has given up simply two receptions on 4 targets for 9 yards during the last two weeks in opposition to the Chargers and Packers.
Moehrig’s lone interception thus far this season got here throughout that stretch, getting a move that Justin Herbert sailed over his supposed goal. He’s doubled as a each a robust and free security this season, displaying his versatility.
Moehrig recorded 4 complete tackles and gave up a reception for 5 yards on two targets in final season’s sport in opposition to the Patriots.
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