The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Baltimore Ravens in a tough Week 1 matchup. Both of these franchises suffered disappointing losses to end their year. Las Vegas and Baltimore will want to start the season with a win, as they each participate in a competitive division. It's time to continue our NFL predictions series with a Raiders Week 1 prediction.
Las Vegas is in an intriguing situation in the AFC West. They're not a good enough team to beat out the Kansas City Chiefs, but they could be in contention for a playoff spot regardless. They'll have to perform their best though, as there are some concerns with the roster moving forward.
Even so, due to the multiple injuries sustained by the Ravens this offseason, the Raiders defense could be in for a big game. Offensively, Las Vegas could come out and surprise Baltimore's defense with a stout run game. Derek Carr could be in for a big game while Darren Waller will do Darren Waller things. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Raiders Week 1 matchup against the Ravens.
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Raiders Week 1 Predictions
4. Raiders defense shuts down the Ravens passing game
With multiple injuries in the backfield, as well as the Ravens' first-round pick Rashod Batemen out with injury, the Raiders defense could be in for a big game. Lamar Jackson will likely cause a commotion, but this is a huge opportunity for Las Vegas to step up their pass coverage.
3. Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake provide consistency in the backfield
The front seven in Baltimore is one of the best in the NFL. However, the combination of Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake could prove to be a problem. Jacobs works best as the first option running back while Drake is a high-end backup. Look for Jacobs to mainly operate in the run game while Drake serves a pass option out of the backfield. Between the two, we could see the Raiders chip away at Baltimore, tiring the defense throughout the game.
2. Derek Carr takes advantage of the Ravens hindered secondary
With Marcus Peters being one of the multiple players out for the season, the Ravens' secondary took a hit. Meanwhile, Las Vegas' receiving core has seemed to step up throughout the preseason. If that's the case, Baltimore could be in for a long day come Sunday. Look for Derek Carr to exploit the secondary, as that will be the main key to victory.
1. Darren Waller proves he's the best tight end in the league
Statistically, Darren Waller finished as the second-best tight end in 2020, as Travis Kelce ran away with it last year. However, Waller is in line to possibly play an even bigger role this season. Jon Gruden is on record of saying the coaching staff has drawn up more plays focused on getting Waller the ball. This is a necessity for the Raiders if they hope to be competitive this year. Look for Waller to come out with all guns blazing, as he'll aim to carry the Raiders to victory.
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