There are issues on both sides of the week 9 Raiders at Giants matchup. For New York, it’s a little less concerning playing on a short week after a 20-17 loss to the Chiefs on Monday. For Las Vegas, who has already had to deal with the distractions of firing Jon Gruden for leaked emails earlier this year, it’s parting ways with last year’s 1st round draft pick Henry Ruggs following his involvement in a fatal DUI crash on Tuesday.
The show must go on though, and Las Vegas moves forward as -3 point favorites at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Is that line, which seems on the low side, indicative that the 5-2 Raiders come out flat against the 2-6 Giants? The public loves LV here to the tune of over 70% of the bets coming the visitor’s way.
Raiders Alter Their Game Plan?
Ruggs was very much still a work in progress, but he was developing to the tune of leading the Raiders in receiving yards this season with 469 while adding 2 TDs. Ruggs had a 19.5 yards per catch average so to say his loss as a field stretcher isn’t going to be missed would be wrong.
Either way the Las Vegas #2 passing offense (307.9 yards/game) moves on with Hunter Renfrow (38 catches, 399 yards) expecting a big uptick in usage. The Raiders had a bye last week, so they’re hopeful that allows Darren Waller (ankle) to get back in the lineup after missing the 33-22 win over Philadelphia in week 7.
QB Derek Carr is going to have to be great in the week 9 Raiders at Giants matchup because Las Vegas has no running game. Josh Jacobs leads the team with just 204 yards in 5 games, so Carr’s stretch of multiple TDs in six of seven games needs to continue. The Giants defense did as good of a job as you can expect against Patrick Mahomes on Monday, holding him to 29/48 passing for 275 with 1 TD and 1 INT.
Giants Playing Better
New York could smell the upset after taking a 17-14 lead in the 4th quarter on Monday night, but the Chiefs were able to add two FGs in the final 9 minutes to pull out the 20-17 win. The Giants did cover the +10.5 spread though, and it was their second straight solid performance following a 25-3 win over Carolina in week 7.
It is kind of disappointing that the Giants could only muster 17 points coming off their bye week and against a very bad Chiefs defense that ranks 28th in the league giving up 391.5 yards/game. Daniel Jones was 22/32 for 222 yards with 2 TD and 1 INT – good but not great numbers considering Kansas City’s defense has allowed at least 27 points to 6 of 8 opponents this season.
The short turnaround from the Monday night game doesn’t do a whole lot to help the Giants get healthier for the visit from the Raiders. RB Saquon Barkley (ankle) and WR Sterling Shepard (quad) remain out while WR Kenny Golladay (knee) is upgraded to questionable but has missed the last four Giants games.
Week 9 Raiders at Giants Pick
It is tough for a West Coast (ish) team to go East for an early game but the Raiders have gotten a 26-17 win in Pittsburgh earlier this season as +5.5 underdogs. There’s just something about this game though, whether it’s the travel, the Ruggs distraction, the line being low, or the fact that the Raiders are in ‘look ahead’ mode with Kansas City coming to town next week. The Giants have to be the play here.
Giants 26 – Raiders 24
Free Pick: Giants +3
