The Las Vegas Raiders will play the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football. Last week, the Raiders beat the New York Giants 30-6, while the Jets lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 27-6. Both teams are trying to stay in the playoff race, so this game is important.
Slow Down Rushing Attack
For the Raiders to win, they must slow down Breece Hall. Las Vegas is second to last in rush defense, giving up 138.7 yards per game. The Jets, with Zach Wilson at quarterback, will lean on Hall, so the Raiders must do a better job of stopping the run.
Las Vegas must stack the box, and linebackers and defensive linemen must do a better job getting off blocks. Watching the past few games, Las Vegas has struggled to get of blocks. The Raiders must also tackle better and rally to the ball. If they can do those things, the run defense can be successful. Stopping would make the Jets pass more with Wilson, something they would love to happen.
Continue to Pound the Rock
Last week, the Raiders' offense played well. Their running game was successful, with Josh Jacobs rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets' defense is good, but they struggle against the run; they give up 137.3 yards per game, which can be due to the defense always being on the field because of a struggling offense.
Nevertheless, the Raiders, with Aiden O'Connell at quarterback, will need to be able to run the ball. The offensive line will need to fire off the ball and play physically. It will likely be a stacked box, but physicality allows you to run the ball. Even if it's not working, the Raiders must still try to run the ball, not be one-dimensional.
O’Connell Needs to Play Efficiently
O'Connell must take care of the ball; the Jets have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. With the Jets gearing up to stop the run, Raiders receivers will have many one-on-one matchups, and they have to win. Jets cornerback will likely be lined up with Davante Adams, and the Raiders should like their chances with Adams one-on-one with anybody.
Look for the Raiders to take deep shots down the field to make big plays in the passing game. I think Adams and Hunter Renfrow will be huge factors in this game. But it will come down to whether the Raiders offensive line can protect O'Connell. If he has time to pass, I see no problem with Raiders receivers getting open. Football games are won in the trenches, and that won't be any different on Sunday night.
(Image Credit: Kyle Terada of USA TODAY)
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