Raiders vs. Jets preview: How they match up, injuries, bold predictions

The Las Vegas Raiders will travel a long way in search of their first victory in a month.

They will look to snap a four-game skid when they make their second trip of the season to the Eastern time zone.

The New York Jets (2-5) will host the Raiders (3-4) and try to extend their run of futility.

Vegas Nation podcast

Game information

■ Who: Raiders at Jets

■ When: 10 a.m. Sunday

■ Where: MetLife Stadium

■ TV: Fox (Kenny Albert, play-by-play; Jonathan Vilma, analyst; Megan Olivi, sideline)

■ Radio: KRLV-AM (920), KOMP-FM (92.3) (Jason Horowitz, play-by-play; Kirk Morrison, analyst)

■ Line: Jets -1½, total 45½

Series history

The Raiders have won four of the past five to extend their lead in the all-time series to 27-20-2.

It’s a rivalry that dates to the days the Jets were called the New York Titans and includes four postseason games.

The Titans, who became the Jets in 1963, dropped the first meeting in 1960 before reeling off six straight wins.

In a rematch of the infamous “Heidi Game” a month earlier, the Jets earned the 1968 AFL title with a 27-23 win over the Raiders in the first postseason meeting in December 1968.

The Jets also won a January 1983 divisional-round game in front of more than 90,000 fans at Los Angeles Coliseum when Scott Dierking scored on a 1-yard run with 3:45 left.

The Raiders bounced back with wins over the Jets in a 2001 AFC wild-card game and a 2002 divisional-round game when the Raiders eventually went to the Super Bowl.

Last meeting

Nov. 12, 2023 — Tight end Michael Mayer caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Aidan O’Connell in the first minute of the fourth quarter to break a tie, and it proved to be the winner in a 16-12 victory at Allegiant Stadium.

It was the only touchdown for either team.

The Jets kicked their fourth field goal with 3:02 to go and didn’t score again.

O’Connell finished 16-for-27 for 153 yards.

Josh Jacobs ran for 116 yards for the Raiders, and Davante Adams had six catches for 86 yards.

Bold predictions

1. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty will average at least 5 yards per carry after calling out some of the Jets’ defenders for their unwillingness to tackle and will draw at least one late-hit penalty.

2. Maxx Crosby will sack Jets quarterback and former Raiders teammate Geno Smith at least twice, which would double his season total.

3. Jets receiver Garrett Wilson, who expressed frustration with a lack of targets, will have at least 10 passes thrown in his direction.

Storyline

This game could have a major impact on how the rest of the season plays out for the Raiders.

A loss to the Jets, which would be a fifth consecutive defeat after the 3-0 start, could signal the time has come to turn the page on the 2026 campaign. It at least would be an indication that any hopes for a playoff berth should be put to rest.

That could mean a full commitment to next season, which includes the potential of selling at the trade deadline and accelerating the transition at quarterback.

A win, however, could change everything. It would mean the Raiders are in the playoff mix despite a tough schedule ahead.

As if the game needed any more intrigue, Jeanty decided to question the desire of some of the Jets’ defenders to tackle.

It has been a daily headline this week in New York, and the video clip is probably loaded onto every Jets player’s tablet where it plays on a loop.

That’s not to mention the revenge angle for Smith, who had a disappointing stint as Raiders quarterback last season and didn’t win over many Raiders fans with the way he handled adversity.

The Jets also have former Raiders linemen Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith on the roster.

Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds played with Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza on the national championship team at Indiana last year.

A key portion of the game to watch will be the last two minutes of the first half. Under Aaron Glenn, the Jets have scored the fewest amount of points in the league and allowed the most during that stretch. They have been outscored 107-6 in those 24 games.

When the Jets have the ball

Smith hasn’t been great, but he is having a bounceback season after everything went wrong in Las Vegas last year.

He’s completing 70 percent of his passes and has 10 touchdowns to two interceptions, though he has been sacked 21 times.

Braelon Allen has done an admirable job filling in for injured top running back Breece Hall, but there’s a chance the Jets get Hall back and employ a two-back attack.

Wilson is a star, and the Jets have talented tight ends in Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor.

“They have some good players,” Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard said. “They have some good tight ends. Five (Wilson) is a great player. You better know where he is and account for him. And the quarterback is playing at a high level. They have a good team, and they play really hard. They’re physical up front, and it’s going to be a good challenge for us.”

Still, the Jets are 2-5, and only six teams have scored fewer touchdowns this season.

The Jets won’t provide the same degree of challenge the Raiders have been seeing against some of the league’s best offenses in recent weeks, but level of competition doesn’t matter if you aren’t doing the little things right.

For the Raiders, that means run fits and tackling. Those have been major issues as they have been shredded on the ground several times in recent games and are yielding a league-worst 5 yards per carry.

Their focus should be internal.

When the Raiders have the ball

The Raiders need to find a way to run the ball.

They have averaged 55.8 yards per game over the past four outings and are at the bottom of the league in rushing.

Jeanty will be counted on to back up his words and believes he can have more success by trusting his reads and being more decisive once he picks a lane.

But it’s going to be a group effort.

“We can all do things better, running backs, fullbacks, offensive line,” coach Klint Kubiak said. “It’s a team thing. We’re definitely focusing on different things with each player, but we can all improve.”

The Jets struggle defending the run, so it will be an interesting matchup of weaknesses. The Jets are much better against the pass, which is where the Raiders have thrived.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins has the passing game looking great on paper as he sits near the top of the league in passing yards and touchdowns, but there is still meat on the bone.

The Raiders have had to throw a lot to keep up with opponents who are scoring a lot against their defense. They still haven’t gotten their wide receivers involved outside of Tre Tucker. Cousins acknowledges there are several areas where they need to show improvement.

“We can be better in the red zone. We can be better on third down,” Cousins said. “When plays are there to be made, you’ve got to make them.

“The only time you get away with not playing perfect is if you’re winning. Other than that, you either need to be playing perfect or you need to be winning. So, there’s plenty of room for improvement.”

The Raiders could be making a change with rookie Trey Zuhn III potentially starting at right guard. Receivers Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech also could return from injury.

Injury report

■ Raiders: Out: DE Patrick Johnson (stinger), TE Carter Runyon (foot). Questionable: WR Jack Bech (forearm), OL Jackson Powers-Johnson (back).

■ Jets: Out: EDGE Joseph Ossai (ankle), DL T’Vondre Sweat (knee), OL Max Mitchell (concussion). Doubtful: EDGE David Bailey (groin). Questionable: RB Breece Hall (quad), OL Dylan Parham (knee).

The pick

Raiders 24, Jets 20

Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal