The Las Vegas Raiders are entering the Superdome with a 2-0 record under new head coach Klint Kubiak. And while Kubiak is known for being one of the better offensive play-callers in the NFL, it’s actually been the defense for Vegas that has been leading the charge through the first two weeks.
The Raiders come into Week 3 leading the NFL with 8 sacks and a 50% pressure rate, all while only blitzing 7.4% of the time. The Raiders are showing that they are going to get pressure with four, and when they do,
they are going to get home and finish the job with a sack.
The Raiders have been able to do this because they have transitioned from a 4-3 defense under former DC Patrick Graham to a 3-4 defense under new DC Rob Leonard. The simulated pressure looks force QBs to hold the ball longer after the snap because the pre-snap protection could have identified the incorrect pass protection.
The Raiders are not only getting sacks without heavy blitz packages, but they are also forcing turnovers. The Raiders have 3 interceptions through two games, which has them tied for second across the league, and they are also +2 in turnover margin.
They have also been able to hold teams to 23.5 points per game. But while their passing defense has been really solid, the run defense is middle of the pack. The Raiders are giving up just over 100 rushing yards per game, which has them ranked 16th in the league.
This game has an obvious key to victory for the New Orleans Saints: Can they hold up on the offensive line, especially with Kelvin Banks Jr. not playing for a while? If they can manage the protection and establish a rushing attack, it will help expose the defense and give Tyler Shough the ability to make plays off play action. The Saints cannot allow the defense to pin its ears back and just attack the offense however it wants to.
Also, keep in mind the level of competition that the Raiders have faced over the past two weeks. They matched up against the Chargers and Dolphins, who may very well be two of the worst teams in the league.
As for the Saints, the defense has been better than what the numbers are showing. The Saints’ defensive performance against the Lions may have been an outlier to begin the season. Last year under DC Brandon Staley, the Saints were a top-10 defense in the NFL, and in Week 1 they gave up a lot of yards on the ground.
But in Week 2, against one of the most prolific rushing combinations in the league, they held the Ravens to 108 rushing yards and 312 yards of total offense. The Saints defense is showing so far that its ability to defend the pass is starting to take another step forward, while the run defense still needs a little more consistency.
The question becomes: Which run defense shows up?
Ashton Jeanty has not had a great start to the season. So far, he has 150 yards on 44 carries and 0 TDs through two games. He’s averaging 3.4 yards per carry, while the Saints are allowing 5.0 yards per carry through two weeks.
It is very important for the Saints to stop Jeanty early and keep the Raiders offense off schedule. Cousins, being the veteran QB he is, needs to stay ahead of the chains to keep the offense moving. He is not a dynamic QB, but if the offense is steady enough and he is in the game late, he can make the throws necessary to threaten the Saints and potentially win this game on the road.
Forcing the Raiders into second-and-long and third-and-long situations will be very important.
If you look at this Raiders offense, it almost resembles a lesser-quality version of the Detroit Lions. Cousins is similar to Goff in that both like to get rid of the ball quickly and are statues in the pocket. Both offenses feature a dynamic running back with the ability to break a game open in Jeanty and Gibbs. They also have an all-around TE who must be identified on every play—a good blocker and elite pass catcher—with Bowers for the Raiders and LaPorta for the Lions.
The comparisons are there, but the difference is that the Lions have better talent at some of the core positions, and the Saints nearly stole that game on the road.
Being at home and having the defense get a chance to play with this crowd behind it should be a huge advantage, especially on third downs. This is one area where the defense has been very good so far this season. The Saints have held their first two opponents to 9-of-22 on third downs, a 40.9% conversion rate.
Keep the running game in check, force them into third-and-long situations, and let the pass rush go to work with the decibels in the Dome touching 115-120. If the Saints can do that, this should be a great opportunity for the defense to have a strong outing.
Which defense do you think has the advantage in this game? Were you surprised that the Raiders are leading the league in several defensive categories through the first two weeks?
