The Las Vegas Raiders (3-0, 2-0 home) host the New England Patriots (1-1, 0-0 away) in the final week of the preseason. Las Vegas attempts to end the preseason slate with a perfect record while the Patriots travel away from Gillette Stadium for the first time.
The kick-off of Friday’s contest is at 8:15 p.m. EST inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The line is currently a pick ’em, and the over-under total is 37.5 points.
What to Know – New England Patriots
New England rolls into Sin City after a bounce-back victory last week in a 20-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. The Patriots open the season with three of their first four games on the road, including the season-opener at Miami.
Third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe has garnered much of the snaps under center through the first two preseason games. With the likelihood of the Patriots holding out starter Mac Jones in the preseason finale, Zappe should again get a majority of the practice at quarterback.
Look for running back Ty Montgomery and Pierre Strong Jr. to handle rushing duties while Damien Harris remains sidelined with an injury. Rhamondre Stevenson is in line to take over the starting role in Week 1 if Harris isn’t ready to go.
Wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey hauled in five passes for 71 yards in last week’s victory. Humphrey and reserves Tre Nixon, Josh Hammond, and Matthew Slater should get significant playing time Friday as they battle for roster spots.
What to Know – Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have dominated the preseason and look to cap it off with a perfect 4-0 mark before the start of the regular season. Las Vegas opens the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Derek Carr will start the season under center, and the veteran QB won’t see any snaps under center during the preseason. Those duties belong to backup Jarrett Stidham and third-stringer Chase Garbers.
On the ground, the Raiders have utilized rookie rusher Zamir White this preseason, and the Georgia product has impressed. White might take a backseat in Friday’s finale to Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden, who’ll duel it out for the Raiders’ No. 3 rusher.
Las Vegas went and signed former Green Bay Packers star wideout Davante Adams in the offseason. Adams, like Carr, won’t see the field at all this preseason. The pass-catching duties will go to a handful of backup wide receivers who are trying to find their role on the roster before final cuts are made.
The Pick is In
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is 10-2 in preseason contests since 2018, and he gets to face his former offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels, in his first year as head coach of the Raiders.
Under Belichick, the Patriots treat the preseason game just like a regular season contest, and the players fighting for a roster spot will come prepared.
Las Vegas has been solid in the preseason, but New England will lean on their experienced coaching staff for the victory.
The Pick: New England Patriots ML
