Raiders Must Beat Jets In Critical Week 8 Road Matchup

The Las Vegas Raiders were feeling on top of the world after starting the season 3-0 but have quickly fallen off by losing four straight ahead of an important meeting against the 2-5 New York Jets.

The Raiders desperately need to take advantage of an easy opponent like the Jets, which may have their star running back Breece Hall returning to the lineup, albeit likely in a limited fashion.

Las Vegas had to take on a Los Angeles Rams team that hasn’t been playing to their standard and were on the receiving end of a 35-point onslaught, losing by 14 at home in Week 7. The Rams moved the ball with ease most times and secured the much-needed win against a reeling Raiders squad.

If the Raiders continue to struggle over the next few weeks, by the Week 13 bye, we could be seeing rookie and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in the starting lineup if not sooner than the bye week.

Granted, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has had an excellent start to his Las Vegas tenure and he hasn’t been the reason for the team’s recent shortcomings, but it’s going to be something the team at least gives some thought along the way (that is, if he's not traded). Cousins has thrown for 1,877 yards and 16 touchdowns with five interceptions but is only completing 62.6 percent of his passes.

The Jets offense has been moving the ball better as of late, with Braelon Allen stepping in as the lead back with Hall working back from a quad injury, and QB Geno Smith throwing the ball at least 30 times in four of the last five games (including three consecutive contests).

Smith is prone to throwing interceptions, something the Raiders know all too well. The 36-year-old has only two this season but threw 17 of them as a Raider in his lone season with the team last year.

While he isn’t turning the ball over as much, Smith has been sacked 21 times, tied for the fourth-most in the National Football League. Get to the QB and good things will happen – even if you can’t get home for the sack, the pressure will lead to mistakes and that’s exactly how the Raiders need to operate to win this game.

Defensively, the Jets are middle of the pack in terms of how they allow offense. The Raiders should present a balanced attack against New York, with slightly more emphasis on the running game. Ashton Jeanty should be involved early and often.