What consultants are predicting for Sunday’s Patriots-Raiders sport

Any individual ought to inform CBS. You may bear in mind NBC dumped this showdown as its Sunday night time matchup final season in favor of….um, Giants-Commanders. Discuss your fall from grace, Mr. Kraft. 

However the community that after employed James Corden is once more delivering its No. 1 crew (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo) to name a sport that options, arguably, the worst group in soccer. Perhaps they’re caught in the identical Memento cycle all of us discover ourselves in periodically; figuring the Patriots will proper the ship and determine it out as a result of it’s what they’ve all the time achieved. I’ve nonetheless obtained Netflix DVDs that have been delivered again when that was truly the case.

In any case, this can be a pivotal sport for the Patriots in that it’ll assist decide simply how terrible this group can really be for a third-straight sport. If the Patriots don’t rating a landing – once more – are there jobs in jeopardy? 

Bear in mind when this group nearly beat the Eagles and Dolphins merely weeks in the past? That was extra enjoyable. 

This week’s predictions

Bruce Marshall, Las Vegas Overview-Journal: Raiders (-3). “Returning to the scene of the unimaginable last-play loss for the Patriots a yr in the past, which kicked off what’s now a 1-8 slide towards the unfold for New England. The Raiders are on an 8-3 run to the beneath (41 1/2).” 

Globe employees: 4 of 6 decide the Raiders (-2.5)

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 19, Raiders 16. “Upset! New England has been outscored 72-3 up to now two video games, the 2 worst losses in Invoice Belichick’s storied profession. Mac Jones holds onto his beginning QB job by a fraying thread, and Invoice’s once-reliable protection has failed him. So why the upset decide? Truthful query. Only a hunch, principally. Vegas is off a brief week after taking part in Monday night time, and its bottom-five offense is tonic for Pats’ beleaguered D and presents a low bar for Jones to high.”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports activities: Patriots 23, Raiders 20. “This pits Josh McDaniels towards his former boss in Invoice Belichick. The Raiders are coming off a Monday night time victory, whereas the Patriots are coming off two terrible losses in a row. However I feel the Patriots will get again on observe right here. There isn’t a lot distinction between these groups. New England in an upset.” 

CBS Sports activities employees: 5 of eight like New England (+3). 

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Occasions: Raiders 27, Patriots 24. “The Patriots have gotten stomped two weeks in a row and now head to Las Vegas to play a group coming off a giant Monday night time win. The Raiders don’t have nice protection, however the offense is OK.” 

Jimmy Kempski, Philly Voice: Raiders (-3). “Trivia: Who has the worst level differential within the AFC? (‘Jeopardy!’ music taking part in)… It’s the Patriots. They’re at -76, after dropping 38-3 to the Cowboys Week 4 and 34-0 to the Saints Week 5. The Raiders have additionally been type of a prepare wreck in their very own manner this season, primarily due to teaching gaffes by Josh McDaniels. Nonetheless, they’ve extra expertise, I suppose, so I’ll take them with no confidence in any way.” 

ESPN employees: 4 of seven go along with the Raiders. 

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports activities: Raiders (-3). “We’ve seen sufficient of the Patriots to know they’re one of many worst groups within the NFL. The Raiders aren’t good both, however dropping to this model of New England at residence could be fairly unhealthy.” 

Sheil Kapadia, The Ringer: Patriots (+3). “As a substitute of selecting this sport, can I make a prediction for 2024? Belichick is teaching the Commanders with McDaniels as his offensive coordinator.” 

MMQB employees: Two out of seven go along with the Pats. 

SB Nation employees: 4 of 5 go along with Vegas. 

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting Information: Raiders 24, Patriots 20. “There’s some actual warmth on Josh McDaniels in 12 months 2 as Raiders coach. There ought to be actual lament on the a part of Invoice Belichick for not having McDaniels calling his offense, Jimmy Garoppolo changing Tom Brady as an alternative of Mac Jones, and yeah, not re-signing Jakobi Meyers. That is the final word revenge sport for a lot of issues Raiders and it’s time to maintain smacking Belichick’s depleted protection and shaky offense when it’s down.”

Invoice Bender, The Sporting Information: Patriots 20, Raiders 18. “Go determine that the Invoice Belichick-Josh McDaniels matchup is the hardest sport to select this week. Jakobi Meyers – who threw the ill-fated lateral in New England’s 30-24 loss to Las Vegas final season – performs for the Raiders now. That’s one subplot, however the backside line is New England has scored three factors within the final two video games. If Mac Jones can’t win right here, then it may be time to go to Bailey Zappe full time. Will Jimmy Garoppollo hang-out Belichick right here? Great spot for a light-weight upset.”

Mike Florio, Professional Soccer Discuss: Raiders 21, Patriots 17. “At this fee, Invoice Belichick may not even make it till the top of the season.”

Chris Simms, Professional Soccer Discuss: Raiders 20, Patriots 16. 

It says right here: Raiders 17, Patriots 14.

I’m not deranged. These are defensive touchdowns for the Patriots. No less than New England will likely be much less embarrassed than the final time it left Vegas, however that’s a low bar.