The Las Vegas Raiders have finally put a three-game losing streak to rest after an explosive Thanksgiving matchup. The Silver and Black used all their willpower to win last Thursday and have had a long week to prepare for Washington. As the Raiders come together to prepare, let’s look at three major headlines for Week 13.
Darren Waller “Doubtful”
The Silver and Black’s superstar tight end has been officially listed as doubtful for the Raiders’ matchup vs. Washington this week. Waller suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of last week’s game and has not practiced since.
Waller leaves a big hole in the offense as he was one of Derek Carr’s favorite targets. Waller’s injury leaves the door wide open for third-year player Foster Moreau. Moreau stepped up in a big way when Waller missed the Raiders’ Week 7 game vs. Philadelphia. Moreau was targeted six times for six receptions, accumulating 60 yards and a touchdown.
Moreau has been highly praised by many teammates and coaches in the Raiders organization. This week, he may have another chance to prove how vital he is to this offense.
Malcolm Koonce’s debut?
In the third round of the 2021 draft, the Raiders selected 23-year-old defensive end Malcolm Koonce. Despite a tremendous amount of excitement surrounding the pick by the Raiders’ front office, Koonce has yet to see the field this season. This week, that may finally change.
Carl Nassib has been ruled out for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 12. Because of his injury, Koonce may have a chance to take his place.
Koonce was named to the first-team All-MAC team during the 2019 and 2020 college football seasons. He was also named defensive MVP during the 2019 Bahamas Bowl during his junior season. Koonce was an explosive player in college, and that may be the juice the Raiders need to pull out a win without Nassib.
The Washington Football Team is on a three-game win streak
The Washington Football Team is one of the few teams to not see a loss during the month of November. Despite losing both Montez Sweat and Chase Young, their defense has come to life over the last month.
They currently sit at 5-6 and are in second place in the NFC East. With the help of Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin, quarterback Taylor Heinicke has shown off his rushing skills and his ability to make plays out of seemingly nothing.
Washington also brings former Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio to town. After being fired by the Raiders following the 2017 season, Del Rio found a home in Washington. It’s safe to say the Washington Football Team is looking to extend their win streak to four in a revenge game for their defensive coordinator. Will Las Vegas be able to put their streak to an end? The coin says yes.
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*Top Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images