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With the NFL preseason officially underway, the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for their opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. After a busy offseason, the Raiders hope to improve and make a playoff push in 2021. They have their work cut out for them in a stacked AFC West, but Las Vegas should be competitive regardless.
*Watch the preseason matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Defense is the biggest concern for the Raiders. They had a below-average unit last year. The offense is better than many perceive, so if the defense can perform at a higher level, the Raiders should be a much more dangerous team going forward. Jon Gruden and the coaching staff will keep a close eye on the defense; they'll want the best players in the starting lineup.
The offense was very consistent last season, but there is always room for improvement. The wide receiver room must step up and help tight end Darren Waller in the passing game. Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards have been impressive in training camp, but it's time for others to boost their production as well. Furthermore, with Waller's ankle injury being a significant concern this preseason, the Raiders are confident their backup tight ends can fill in if Waller misses some time. We should see one tight end hit the ground running on Friday night. With that said, here are four bold predictions for the Raiders' preseason opener against the Seahawks.
4. The defense will play better than expected
It's no secret the Seattle Seahawks have a dangerous offense. They have a relatively deep squad that will give the Raiders a good challenge to kick off the preseason. Even so, the Raiders should feel confident with the defense they've built. The front seven looks strong and the front office spent a lot of draft picks on safeties this year. If everything comes together as the Raiders have planned, we could see a glimpse into how good this defense really is.
3. Zay Jones balls out
There has been nothing but great news coming out of training camp regarding Zay Jones. He's had a rough start to his career, but he might have found a home in Las Vegas. He is performing well. The Raiders must have a more consistent passing attack if they hope to make a playoff run. With that said, Vegas may have gotten lucky by acquiring Zay Jones this offseason. Look for him to prove himself in a big way during Saturday night's matchup.
2. Nate Hobbs separates himself in the cornerback battle
The slot cornerback role likely belongs to Nevin Lawson. However, he's suspended for the first two games of the regular season. For that reason, the Raiders have had a position battle in training camp and so far, Nate Hobbs has been the most consistent. He'll have a chance to prove he deserves a role on the defense against the Seahawks. This is a great challenge for the Raiders' rookie cornerback. This is the perfect situation for Hobbs to carve out a more prominent role even when Lawson eventually returns.
1. Foster Moreau makes some noise
With no word of Darren Waller's return, the Raiders are looking to the bench for some consistency. Foster Moreau isn't a popular name, but he's been showing out in training camp so far. He'll have an opportunity to earn the main backup role behind Waller, as he has the potential to be a solid tight end if Waller misses some time.
