Jets vs Raiders key storylines
1. Klint Kubiak vowed there was "no controversy" at quarterback, where Kirk Cousins will remain the starter. While the 38-year-old might have hit a wall last week in trying to navigate the Rams' relentless blitzes, the NFL's leading passer is hardly the Silver and Black's biggest problem. Kubiak has bemoaned an inert running game that has left Las Vegas needing to sling its way back into games. It could be tricky to get things going against a Jets defense that ranks fifth in defensive EPA per rush.
2. Can New York finally get Garrett Wilson involved early and often in the offensive game plan? One week after he was essentially a non-factor against the Patriots, Wilson was held without a reception or target in the first half against a woefully
undermanned Dolphins secondary. Wilson and Glenn both downplayed the wideout's heated confrontation with quarterback Geno Smith, but expect feeding the receiver early and often to be a point of emphasis for Gang Green.
3. How the Raiders' defense handles the Jets' ground game could determine the course of the game. The Silver and Black allowed a season-high 199 rushing yards to the Rams last week, with a vulnerability that has been apparent all season finally reaching critical mass. New York, meanwhile, has seen Braelon Allen eclipse 100 rushing yards in two of the last three games he's handled as Breece Hall's fill-in.
Jets vs Raiders odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Jets -1.5
- Moneyline: Jets -125; Raiders +105
- Total: 40.5
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Jets vs Raiders USA TODAY expert picks
Adam Kaufman: Jets 24, Raiders 21
Welcome back to Narrative Street! Geno Smith gets his former team, while Kirk Cousins keeps the Raiders' starting job despite the growing curiosity about Fernando Mendoza. Neither team has earned much trust lately, so let's acknowledge that before pretending this is an easy handicap. Smith threw three touchdowns against Miami, and Las Vegas' defense offers an opportunity for another productive afternoon. The Raiders need more from their running game to keep Cousins from carrying every possession. I'm giving New York the slightest edge at the Meadowlands, and a fifth straight loss for Las Vegas.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Jets 24, Raiders 20
This game could end up shaping the second half of the season for two coaching staffs that seem to be at a crossroads. The Jets' secondary might not be able to mug the Raiders' receiving corps the way that the Patriots and Rams did, but the pass rush should be able to generate sufficient heat to keep Kirk Cousins out of sorts. Las Vegas seems desperate to find any semblance of offensive balance - as well as some stops against the run - but a breakthrough might not materialize this week.
Nicholas Brinkerhoff: Raiders 26, Jets 20
You can put a bow on the 2026 Jets. The season, and maybe the Aaron Glenn era, came to an end with a loss to the Dolphins in Week 7. It's going to be a bumpy ride to the finish, but there is no doubt the destination is a top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. That's why it's fitting that New York will get a glimpse at what it could've had last season. Fernando Mendoza won't play, but it's the idea he's wearing silver and black that sticks. The Raiders are just better. Vegas gets back on track.
Where to watch Raiders at Jets
- Matchup: Jets vs. Raiders
- Date: Nov. 1
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
- Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
- TV: Fox
Raiders at Jets updated injury report
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raiders at Jets: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 8 game
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