Monday Night Football is on ABC15 this week! The Las Vegas Raiders take on the New Orleans Saints at 5:15 p.m. Monday night on ABC15. So which team can remain undefeated on the season?
Here are predictions from the ABC15 sports team.
Sports Director Craig Fouhy:
Despite being 5.5-point underdogs against the Saints, the Las Vegas Raiders are looking to win their first game in Allegiant Stadium in franchise history.
The Raiders went on the road in week 1 and edged out the Carolina Panthers 34-30 in a game that was a shoot-out from the beginning. The Raiders defense struggled throughout the game, but stepped up with a big 4th-and-1 stop late in the game to secure the win.
The Saints had a huge task in week one taking on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, but they ended up beating Bruce Arian’s team by 11, 34-23.
So, Monday night should be interesting. The last time these two teams met was back in 2016 in a game in New Orleans that featured nearly 1,000-yards of offense. The Raiders narrowly beat the Saints 35-34 thanks to a touchdown and two-point conversion with 47-seconds left. Drew Brees and Derek Carr combined for 742-passing yards and five touchdowns with just one turnover.
If there’s anything to look forward to, it might be the fireworks that Brees and Carr could produce! Expect a high-scoring affair with lots of passing yards.
Prediction: Saints 30 – Raiders 32
*Only because you can’t lose your opener at your brand new stadium nicknamed “The Death Star.” Go Black & Silver!
Sports Reporter Collin Harmon:
Monday Night Football in Las Vegas! I can only imagine the scene that would be in a non-COVIDworld. The opening of the Death Star (Allegiant Stadium) and the first game in Vegas would have made me pick the Raiders in a heartbeat, but no fans allowed is going to drastically change the feel of this one.
Despite a week 1 road win for the Raiders, it came against a Carolina team that’s not supposed to be very good this season. Conversely, the New Orleans Saints are one of the Super Bowl favorites once again as they are nearing the end of that window. I’ve always been a buyer of what the Saints are selling, and I’ll take Drew Brees and Sean Payton any day over Derek Carr and Jon Gruden.
Too many offensive weapons for the Saints and a Raiders defense that still isn’t very good. I would say the Saints win by double digits, but now the Raiders have a ground game with Josh Jacobs and I think they’ll pound it with him to keep Brees off the field. For that reason, it’s a close one.
Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 24
