Prediction: Packers 27, Raiders 20 (3-1)
The Green Bay Packers (2-2) will go on the road to play the Raiders (1-3) for the first time at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Monday night. The primetime showdown is an opportunity for the Packers to bounce back from last week’s home loss to the Detroit Lions and run the team’s win streak to nine games against the Raiders dating back to 1990. Of course, the Packers are also getting a chance to face Davante Adams for the first time since the All-Pro receiver was traded to the Raiders in 2022. Adams remains an elite player. Since joining the Raiders, he has 133 catches for 1,913 yards and 17 touchdowns over 21 games.
Although David Bakhtiari won’t play, Jordan Love will have four of his five preferred offensive line starters and a full arsenal at the skill positions available around him on Monday night. Could this be the first opportunity to see the real Love/Packers offense? Coach and playcaller Matt LaFleur has had extra time to prep a game plan that involves Christian Watson and Aaron Jones. He must find a way to get the run game going, get Love on track early in the game, create explosive plays and sustain drives against a defense giving up over 25 points per game this season. Opposing quarterbacks have a 108.2 passer rating when facing the Raiders in 2023 and the Las Vegas secondary could be down multiple players to injury, so this should be an opportunity for Love to spread the ball around and play his most efficient game of the season.
There are so many interesting connections on special teams. Rich Bisaccia vs. his former team. Keisean Nixon vs. his former team. Dallin Leavitt vs. his former team. Anders Carlson vs. Daniel Carlson. And don’t be surprised if special teams turns the game or helps determine the outcome. Can Bisaccia get his struggling special teams ready to play against the Raiders, who rank third in special teams DVOA through four weeks? Can Nixon finally get going as a kick returner in Las Vegas? And which Carlson brother makes the bigger kick, or has the bigger miss? In a game of middling teams, special teams can have a huge impact. The Packers need to start playing a lot better — and a lot more disciplined — in the third phase, and it has to start Monday night.
A lot of winning factors appear to favor the talented but inconsistent Packers. The Raiders have a turnover-prone quarterback, are struggling to run the football and control the line of scrimmage, and rank among the NFL’s worst on third down and in the red zone on both sides of the ball. While Davante Adams and Maxx Crosby present obvious matchup problems, the Packers are finally getting healthy on offense (especially at the skill positions) and the defense matches up well. This should be a great opportunity for Jordan Love to play efficiently, the run game to gain traction and the defense to create several turnovers. The Packers need to play well to beat any team, especially on the road, but this is a game Matt LaFleur’s team should win.
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