The NFL season is finally upon us, and it’s time for teams to put up or shut up. All of the moves made in the off-season mean nothing now. All of the players who had big preseasons are starting over. And it’s time for teams to prove they deserve the hype they received over the summer.
Game Preview: The Oakland Raiders vs. The New Orleans Saints
Over the first few weeks of the season, trying to predict the outcome of games can be very difficult. We don’t know anything about these teams, and a lot can happen over seventeen weeks.
The Offense
Both teams look to have good offenses in 2016, but for very different reasons. While both teams have good quarterbacks, that’s the only thing they have in common.
Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders look to have a very balanced attack this year. Rushers Latavius Murray and DeAndre Washington look to take pressure off of Carr and a potent passing attack. Carr will hope that tight end Clive Walford and wide receiver Amari Cooper make huge leaps in their second season and that Michael Crabtree can continue his career renaissance.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have had one of the most prolific passing attacks in history over the last decade. Since Drew Brees signed with the team back in 2006, he’s thrown for 48,555 yards and 348 touchdowns. In the history of the NFL, only five men have thrown for at least 5,000 yards in a season. However, only Brees has done it more than once. In fact, he’s done it four times.
Despite having an incredible passing attack over the last decade, the Saints haven’t enjoyed consistent success. They’ve only won the NFC South three times, and they haven’t done so since 2011.
While the Saints will look to keep up their historic passing attack, the Raiders will look break through the glass ceiling and become an elite offense. Last year, several Raiders on the offense showed signs of life.
Derek Carr threw for 32 touchdowns, Amari Cooper became the first Raider receiver with 1,000 yards since Randy Moss, and Latavius Murray was sixth in rushing. If the Raiders want to be successful, they’ll have to build on last year’s success, and learn to complement each other’s strengths.
Advantage- New Orleans
While the Raiders might have more talent overall, the Saints have the experience. The Saints have consistently been one of the elite passing offenses in football over the last few years, and Oakland’s offense disappeared in the second half of the season last year. The Raiders could be great this year, but they’ll have to come out and prove it first.
The Defense
Last season, the Oakland Raiders showed flashes of brilliance on defense. Despite having an atrocious secondary and a serious lack of depth in the front seven, the team managed to rack up 38 sacks. They also forced a league-high two safeties. This off-season, Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders focused on improving the defense, and they made some smart choices.
They drafted Karl Joseph, Shilique Calhoun, and Jihad Ward to bolster the defense, and broke the bank in free agency. The secondary was a focus as they re-signed safety Nate Allen and corner David Amerson, before hitting the market. They brought in Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson to create a consistent veteran presence. Oakland’s biggest defensive acquisition may have been pass rushing linebacker, Bruce Irvin. With the improved secondary and help in the front seven, established All-Pro Khalil Mack is set for a special season.
New Orleans tried, but ultimately failed to improve a very bad defense. They drafted Sheldon Rankins from Louisville in the first round, but he’s set to miss the entire season with a devastating leg injury. They also brought in defensive tackle Nick Fairley, but this will be his third team in as many years.
Advantage- Oakland
Frankly, the Raiders defense would’ve been the better defense last season, and they only got better. The additions made in the draft and free agency should elevate the unit to the next level, while New Orleans simply didn’t improve.
Special Teams
It’s unwise to base regular season expectations on anything you see in the preseason. This is just a fact, and no more needs to be said about it. However, Raider punter Marquette King has looked fantastic so far. He’s always had a big leg, but the biggest criticism was that he didn’t have touch on his punts. Last year, he punted the ball 83 times and 40 of them landed inside the 20, and his 70-yard boot was one of the longest in the league.
When it comes to place-kicking, Oakland’s Sebastian Janikowski is one of unique talents in the league. Seabass is known for his big leg, consistently scoring from longer than fifty yards. Playing inside of the Super Dome removes obstacles such as weather or baseball sand.
As far as the return game goes, nobody knows what to expect from Oakland. They didn’t have a consistent returner last season, but with the new touchback rules, it’ll be interesting to see just how important the return game is in relation to field position.
The Saints struggled with special teams last year. Currently, they have two placekickers on the roster in Connor Barth and Kai Forbath. Their punter, Thomas Morstead, only landed twenty of his fifty-six punts inside the twenty.
Advantage- Oakland
How The Raiders Could Win
If The Oakland Raiders come out and play like the team that everyone expects them to be, they should win this game handily. On offense, they need to move the ball on the ground to set up big players through the air. They need long, consistent drives, ending in touchdowns instead of field goals.
On defense, they need to be physical. They have several talented pass rushers, and they need to show up. They need to hit Drew Brees every time he steps back to pass, and the veteran secondary needs to make big plays. They can’t allow Brees to sit back in the pocket and go after their weakness, the middle of the field.
How The Saints Could Win
The Saints can beat the Raiders by doing what the Saints have done well for ten years. They need to come out blazing, going after Oakland’s linebackers. While the Raiders have several great pass rushers, there are questions about their inside linebackers. Malcolm Smith and Ben Heeney have played well in spots, but it’s unknown if they can prevent a passing attack like the Saints. Watch out for free agent tight end, Coby Fleener. Tight ends have benefited greatly from this system, and Fleener is a phenomenal athlete.
On defense, they have to stifle the run. If they can prevent Murray and Washington from moving the chains, they’ll force the Raiders to be one-dimensional. While Carr and the Raiders have proven they can light up the scoreboard through the air, they also out-think themselves. Sometimes Carr forces pass where he should check down, trying to do too much, and it costs the team.
