Tomorrow, the Las Vegas Raiders will be in Cincinnati as they face one of the best duos in football—Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, the pair of young ocelots from Louisiana State University. This is the first time the Raiders and Bengals will face off since Sin City’s playoff run in 2021.
While the Bengals are plenty talented, the team hasn’t scored an abundance of points as of late. Cincinnati is averaging 18.3 points per game through their last three contests. They currently sit near the bottom of the standings with five losses halfway through the season.
Comparatively, the Raiders are one of the worst offenses in the league. Through eight games, the Silver and Black have surpassed 18 points just four times. It’s led them to a 2-6 record entering Week 9.
Will three touchdowns be enough to halt the Bengals in their tracks and bring home a win? That will be decided by whether or not the Raiders can avoid turning over the football.
How the Las Vegas Raiders can win in Week 9
Do the Raiders want to win? That’s an important question. With so many uncertainties surrounding their roster, landing the highest draft pick possible will only help in the long run. Winning games could deteriorate the future by way of a lower draft pick, but that may not be a concern for team owner Mark Davis and head coach Antonio Pierce.
Gardner Minshew is the main culprit as to why Las Vegas’ turnover ratio has been so drastic. Additionally, the injuries on defense have not aided in any way.
Cincinnati is in the middle of the pack when it comes to turnover differential with eight turnovers both offensively and defensively. The Raiders, however, have been so terrible with turnovers that they lead the league by a mile in this category with a mark of -13.
Stopping the run will not be as important in this game as Cincinnati’s 89.8 rushing yards per contest ranks bottom-five league-wide. In Week 9, the emphasis will be on pass-coverage.
The Bengals simply want to place the ball in the hands of their playmakers, namely wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones, who has been very quiet this season, needs to step up. His first interception of the season can easily take place against a team that wants to sling the football around. The Raiders have one of the better pass defenses in the NFL and will need to maintain that on Sunday.
Offensively, the Silver and Black need to find a way to create a rushing attack whether it’s a result of more creative runs to receivers or constructing a new scheme. Cincinnati struggles to stop the run, but running is the glaring weakness in Las Vegas’ offense.
The Raiders will have to make a decision on playing Desmond Ridder or Minshew in this game. Ridder can also add to the rushing attack with his superior athletic abilities.
In general, the hope is Sin City showcases a motivated team that competes and flashes potential for the future.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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