Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints
Time: NOON (CT) – FOX
Spread: NO -1
M/L: NO -128, OAK +108
Total: 52
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The Oakland Raiders have not made the postseason in 13 seasons and finished 7-9 last year, but head coach Jack Del Rio sets the bar at winning the division this season, and nothing less. “We come in expecting to win our division. That’s our goal, it’s our goal every year (and) we’re not gong to back away from that.”
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But how realistic is it for the Raiders? Derek Carr is still thought to be a franchise QB by some, and the team surrounded him with sufficient weapons to improve to double-digit wins this season. Drafting Amari Cooper and signing Michael Crabtree gives Carr some options, and Lee Smith should be a nice option at TE.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave created a scheme especially designed around Carr’s talents, and the passing game became a major threat for the Raiders last year. The rush attack, not so much, as Oakland ranked No. 28 in the league in rushing yards with just 91.1 per contest.
Carr had a solid sophomore season in the NFL and ended up with a 91 passer rating and a Pro Bowl appearance. Matt McGloin backs him up and has six starts under his belt. Connor Cook is the third-stringer. Latavious Murray is the key in the backfield, though. He rushed for 1,000-plus yards becoming the first Raider since 2010 to do so.
Murray’s 4.0 yards per carry were not quite as impressive, but he proved he can carry a big workload for Oakland last season. He took 79 percent of the team carries, and none of the other backs were really effective at all. The Raiders need a No. 2 back to step up whether it is Roy Helu, Taiwan Jones or fifth round pick DeAndre Washington. Washington is just 5’8” but should be a third-down back at the minimum.
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The Raiders have not been to the playoffs since 2002, but the AFC West is the division to do it in. The defense is upgraded and that should help immensely, and a division title is not altogether out of reach, even if the Kansas City Chiefs are the favorites in the division.
The New Orleans Saints finished 7-9 last season, and as long as Drew Brees is in the saddle, the Saints can really be pencilled in for at least seven wins on the regular. But can anymore come from such an offensively dominant group?
Drew Brees has been said to be in decline, and the Saints selected Garrett Grayson in the third round of the NFL draft. Brees is still damn good. He threw for 4,870 yards last season at a 68.3 percent clip passing 32 TDs and 11 INTs in 15 games. He could suddenly hit the wall, but the Saints are prepared to ride him out as he tutors Grayson to become the QB of the future (presumably). Brees keeps the Saints offensively clicking, and NFL oddsmakers agree in listing the Saints as 1-point Week 1 favorites.
Mark Ingram had a nice year out of the backfield for the Saints last year, becoming a great receiving option and three-down running back. He will serve as the primary back, and the Saints are also intrigued with what CJ Spiller can be.
Spiller had arthroscopic knee surgery last year and never really established momentum, finishing the season with 351 yards from scrimmage. There is some depth in the backfield too with Tim Hightower, Tavaris Cadet and Daniel Lasco. Ingram remains the focus for the Saints’ ground game, though.
If New Orleans’ defense comes together and the OL is strong enough, this team can win 10 games and make its case as a playoff contender. Brees has not slowed down yet, and until he does there is no real reason to write New Orleans off entirely. 7-9 was disappointing last season, but if the defense can create more pressure and force some turnovers, some of those winnable games go down in the right column this year.
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