The (2-6) New York Giants will travel to Allegiant Stadium to take on the (3-5) Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
This is a matchup between two of the most disappointing teams this season. The Giants rank last in several statistical categories, such as points scored (95), point differential (-92), and yards per game (267.9), and are coming off an inconceivable 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
The Raiders lost 26-14 to the Detroit Lions on Monday, then they fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. Then, the Raiders interim head coach and former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce shook things up by announcing that rookie Aidan O’Connell would be the starting quarterback replacing Jimmy Garoppolo.
It’s not expected that we’ll see an offensive explosion between the 31st and 32nd-ranked offenses, but stranger things have happened. Here are our five bold predictions for the game.
Related: NFL games today: Giants vs Raiders delivers intriguing matchup for Week 9 Sunday NFL schedule
Daniel Jones will throw two first-half touchdowns
After being a full participant this week at practice, Daniel Jones is poised to make his return on Sunday after missing the last three games with a neck injury. Jones will be without his favorite target Darren Waller who is out with a hamstring injury, but New York may get their two starting offensive tackles back in Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal.
In his five games this season, Jones has thrown just two touchdown passes and has thrown for less than 150 yards in three of those games. The expectations for this game are low for the 26-year-old quarterback considering he missed almost a month of action, and he’s facing the Raiders’ ninth-ranked pass defense (197 yards per game). But Jones will shock many and start the game off hot by throwing two touchdowns in the first half.
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Davante Adams will have a game-high 10 receptions
Another issue for Las Vegas is that their best player wide receiver Davante Adams is extremely frustrated. On Monday night he was targeted seven times but only had one reception for 11 yards as Garoppolo missed him on what would have been two long touchdowns.
Look for O’Connell to look for the 30-year-old superstar receiver early and often. New York will likely put rookie Deonte Banks on Adams as the rookie has done an impressive job covering elite receivers. But on Sunday Adams will get the better of him and the rest of the Giants secondary as he will have a game-high 10 receptions.
Related: See where the Giants and Raiders land in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Kayvon Thibodeaux will have another three-sack performance
Earlier this season, some were trying to label Thibodeaux a bust. But the second-year pass rusher has quickly silenced his critics as he’s had eight and a half sacks over the last six games.
Last week against the Jets he had a career-high three sacks and would have been in consideration for NFC Defensive Player of the Week if Big Blue had been able to hold on and win the game. The Raiders offensive line gave up six sacks against the Lions and now have a short week to prepare for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s aggressive scheme.
Sometimes rookie quarterbacks hold the ball too long which will be an added benefit for Thibodeaux as he will have back-to-back three-sack performances.
Related: How good is this New York Giants defense? See how Sportsnaut ranks the G-Men
Josh Jacobs will have a 40-yard touchdown run
Perhaps the biggest disappointment for the Raiders this season, is that last year’s rushing champion Josh Jacobs has been shut down by opposing defenses all season. He’s averaging a career-low 3.1 yards per game and has yet to rush for over 78 yards in any game this season. His longest run of the season so far has been for 24 yards.
The weakness for the Giants’ defense this year has been their inability to stop the run. They’re giving up 127.4 yards per game on the ground and now their front seven will be weaker after Leonard Williams was traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
Williams’s absence will be felt on Sunday as Jacobs will have success on the ground and have a 40-yard touchdown run.
Related: See where Daniel Jones and Aidan O’Connell land in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings
The Giants will win by double-digits
There’s a ton of pressure on Giants head coach Brian Daboll following their disaster against the Jets. His decision-making has been questioned all year and some say he might be losing the locker room.
But the 48-year-old head coach will rally his team together and with the return of Jones, they’ll have their first double-digit victory of the season.
New York Giants vs Las Vegas Raiders score prediction: Giants 27, Raiders 17.
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