The Patriots are in control of their own destiny… as long as they just win baby. To keep playoff hopes above water a win against the Las Vegas Raiders is borderline mandatory. The Raiders, like the Cardinals, have tremendously talented players but keep finding ways to lose as they are one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season sitting at 5-8 and most recently losing to a comeback from Baker Mayfield who was a member of the Rams for just 48 hours at the time.
Here are 5 factors to pay attention to heading into the Patriots and Raiders late Sunday afternoon matchup.
Davante Adams is good
Nominee for most obvious sentence of 2022 right there. The Patriots just got finished playing Deandre Hopkins who is probably still a top 10 wide receiver in the league and will now face a without a doubt top 5 receiver in Vegas. He’s been named All-Pro the last 2 seasons and is very well on his way for a 3-peat. To paint a visual picture, Adams has the same number of touchdown receptions than the Patriots have touchdown passes on the season (12).
Only 3 of his 12 touchdowns were inside the redzone. Adams is elite all around and his footwork and route running has put defenders on skates multiple times leaving him wide open for long touchdown receptions. I fear Devin McCourty might get cooked over the top by Adams and the uncomfortable conversation about keeping one of the perennial leaders of Patriots team might prop up after this game.
Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow return
Davante Adams can do it by himself and he’s shown that. But now getting back his often injured teammates (who knows how long for) only makes the Raiders offense more dynamic. Both Renfrow and Waller are back from injured reserve after recovering from an oblique and hamstring injury respectively. When healthy, both pass catchers are difference makers. If the trio are on the field for just one game it may be too much for the Patriots secondary to handle. If they are slated to go, Kyle Duggar vs Darren Waller will be an intriguing matchup. While Myles Bryant will likely take on Renfrow in the slot.
League leading rusher Josh Jacobs and fullback Jakob Johnson
There was talk of running back Josh Jacobs being traded before the season began because of him getting a lot of playing time in the preseason. Well the decision to keep the running back has paid off at least in the statistics department. Jacobs to everyone’s surprise leads the league in rushing with over 1,400 yards. He has been solid his first 3 years of his career but now in a contract year he is having such a historic season where some team will give him big bucks for the year he’s having. Jacobs looks incredibly shifty, explosive, and has shown great pass catching skills. A complete back.
The x-factor that has sprung Jacobs loose many times this season… Jakob Johnson. Patriots fans remember him. The power running game Josh McDaniels brought to Vegas has worked wonders. With all that being said, the Patriots lead the league in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (6). “Bend but don’t break” in full effect. It’ll be very interesting to see what Bill Belichick and company decide to scheme up defensively whether it be focusing more so on Adams on the outside or Jacobs in the backfield.
EDGES Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby
Former Patriot Chandler Jones has finally come alive the last two weeks tallying 4 sacks, 2 tackles for losses, and a forced fumble. Prior to Week 13, Jones only had half a sack to his name on the season. This will only be Jones’ second time playing against the team that drafted him. The first time being was his first game with a new professional team after his 4 year contract with the Patriots in 2016 where he had a sack and fumble recovery. Meanwhile Maxx Crosby is having an even hotter start to his career than Chandler Jones did. Crosby already with 36.5 sacks in 4 seasons is just a half a sack better than Jones through his first four years. The New England offensive line as Patriots fans know has been subpar to say the least and these two edge rushers will look to feast on Mac Jones. It may just be another week of quick passes and screens to counter the Raiders explosive edge rushers.
Last but not least, Josh McDaniels
While Josh McDaniels and the Raiders have been blowing double-digit leads left and right this year like it’s a new form of currency, his longtime familiarity with the Patriots can’t be overstated. Bill Belichick is only batting .500 (11-11) against former assistant Patriots coaches that became head coaches for the opposing team. McDaniels has a win against Belichick way back in 2009 when he was in charge of the Broncos. And perhaps the familiarity of the one year McDaniels worked with Mac Jones will benefit the Raiders in how to scheme up against the 2nd year QB.
BOLD PREDICTION
Jakobi Meyers has his first career multi-touchdown game. Meyers is slated to return after missing last week and I think he makes a big impact. The Raiders defense is beatable and Meyers has been the best and most reliable Patriots receiver this year. With Devante Parker in concussion protocol, even more passes will be funneled to Meyers and I can see him getting in the endzone twice.
GAME PREDICTION
Unlike the Buffalo Bills where they giveaway and takeaway the ball at the top of the league. The Raiders are the exact opposite where they don’t turn the ball over (3rd fewest) but also don’t take the ball away either (2nd fewest). I predict this to be a clean game with no turnovers and may the better offense win. That is what scares me for the Patriots. I don’t believe the Patriots have enough firepower on offense alone to win against opposing talented offenses. It usually takes a key turnover from the Patriots defense or even a score to takeover the game. If that doesn’t happen it might be too much for Mac Jones and company. Also tie that in with a lot of familiarity on the other side of the field against a team that got the upper hand in the preseason “tune-up game” back in August. Out of everything that’s going on in Foxboro, I think Josh McDaniels needs this game more and his offense is more efficient with its playmakers at the end of it.
FINAL SCORE: RAIDERS 27 PATRIOTS 24