One team will (likely) end a two game losing streak in the week 11 Bengals at Raiders matchup. Cincinnati and Las Vegas began their seasons a combined 10-4 but now each have dropped two straight. There’s been a humiliating loss in there for both teams as well, the Bengals to the Jets as -11.5 favorites and the Raiders falling to the Giants with a line of LV -3.
The Bengals did have a bye last week to try and regroup from the 41-16 beating at home at the hands of the Browns in week 9. Las Vegas helped their division rivals get back on track last Sunday night losing 41-14 to a Chiefs team that had been struggling. The vaunted Raiders offense has only managed 15 ppg the last two, a big reason Cincinnati is a -1.5 point road favorite.
Bounce Back for Bengals Offense?
The betting total for the week 11 Bengals at Raiders matchup is 50.5, the highest of the slate except for Dallas at Kansas City. If the Bengals offense plays like it did against Cleveland however, this one is going to be a lower scoring affair. Joe Burrow was 28/40 but with 0 TD and 2 INT.
Maybe last game was a one-time dud against a good Browns defense, because the Bengals had put up 31+ points in each of the three games prior and all on the road. The Raiders are decent vs. the pass (231.0 yds/game, 12th in NFL) but will give up some yardage on the ground (129.1 yds/game, 27th). That LV pass defense can also be gotten to though, as evidenced by Patrick Mahomes throwing for 406 yards and 5 TDs on Sunday night.
Either way, a balanced approach is probably the best bet for Cincinnati in this game, and Joe Mixon still had a good game vs. the Browns (18 carries, 64 yards 2TD) even though the Bengals were already down 31-10 early in the 3rd quarter. Ja’Marr Chase had 13 targets vs. Cleveland (6 catches, 49 yards) and could be in line for the big play on Sunday afternoon considering three different Chiefs players had 30+ yard catches vs. the Raiders last week.
Raiders Reeling on Offense as Well
Las Vegas looked like one of the most potent offenses in the NFL until the last two games when they’ve managed just 16 and 14 points – not surprisingly both losses.
Derek Carr has been held to under 300 yards passing the last two games and he has also thrown 4 INTs over the last three contests. The Raiders live and die by their air attack, because the ground game is virtually nonexistent with their 85.0 yds/game ranking 28th in the NFL. RBs carried the ball just 11 times last week vs. the Chiefs and Josh Jacobs has just 296 yards rushing in 7 games. The Raiders offense actually looks like they’re reeling from losing former 1st round pick Henry Ruggs, who was cut after being involved in a DUI fatality.
Free Week 11 Bengals at Raiders Pick
This could be a game where the Raiders offense gets back on track, as the Bengals gave up 150+ rush yards to Cleveland and allowed Baker Mayfield a pretty easy day completing 14 of 21 passes. Cincinnati should be better coming off a bye week though, and Las Vegas may actually have to win this one in a shootout because of their own defense which is a tough order.
Bengals 33 – Raiders 24
Free Pick: Bengals -1.5
