NYRAGE
Footballguy
The Raiders beat reporters from the Athletic make their predictions. I wish I had their ultra-confidence about this game.
Predictions
Raiders 41, Jets 17
What to watch for: The Raiders simply cannot lose this game. If Las Vegas wants to have any hope of making the playoffs moving forward, they have to win this one. Derek Carr has a big bounceback performance after having his worst game of the season against the Falcons and keeps his team in the playoff hunt.
— Tashan Reed
Raiders 37, Jets 17
What to watch for: The Jets are not 0-11 by accident. And yes, as Carr said, that Jets beat the crap out of them last year in New Jersey. But that has felt like a different team — even last week, when the defense kept them in the game in the first half. The Raiders should be able to run the ball with Devontae Booker, and Darren Waller is overdue for a breakout game. Heck, the Raiders might even get some sacks on Sunday.
— Vic Tafur
Raiders 43, Jets 6
What to watch for: The Jets have a surprisingly good run defense (fifth in yards per carry), so running against them won’t be a cakewalk, but I’d expect the Raiders running game to get back on track even with Jacobs out. I also think Hunter Renfrow will have a big day as a hot route option against some of the Jets blitzes. Rodney Hudson and Carr are excellent at identifying and reacting to blitz schemes and the Jets don’t have the cover guys to hold up if they don’t hit home. The Raiders’ defense played better than the score showed against the Falcons and they should be able to pressure Darnold into some mistakes.
— Ted Nguyen
Raiders 38, Jets 20
What to watch for: The Raiders told us before last week’s Falcons game that they were better than the 2019 team that was also 6-4 before going on the road and getting blown out in Week 12 by the Jets. And then they laid another Week 12 egg with that loss in Atlanta. If this was even a slightly mediocre Jets team, I might pick the Raiders to lose. But the Jets are just so, so, so bad and the defense should feel like it’s playing a worse version of the Broncos. And Carr and the offense has been too good this season to not play a heck of a lot better than last week. Carr throws for four touchdowns and Henry Ruggs III catches one.
— Jimmy Durkin
Raiders 31, Jets 17
What to watch for: This is basically the season. Right here. Week 13. If the Raiders lose to the Jets, stick a fork in them. A defeat on Sunday is not so far-fetched given what we saw from Las Vegas last week, and what happened last year against the Jets. At some point, you have to figure the Jets will put it together one time and get a win. If it happens on the Raiders’ watch, that would be three straight losses and mean they’d have to pretty much run the table after consecutive embarrassing losses. That’s why it won’t happen. The Raiders won’t lose to the Jets. Not this time … right?
— Marcus Thompson II
Raiders 31, Jets 13
What to watch for: If you’ve read this far, you must have some tiny thought that the Raiders theoretically could bungle this. And I’m going to agree with you in this way: The Raiders should and probably will win this game easily, but there is very little they’ve shown over the last few decades that proves that they will do exactly what they should against a far lesser team that hasn’t just been beaten in every game this season but also has been out-gained every week. Which is very tough to do. Even if they’re only at half-speed, the Raiders should have this wrapped up by the second quarter. Now, if they start out at one-third-speed, then Raiders fans can really begin worrying.
— Tim Kawakami
Predictions
Raiders 41, Jets 17
What to watch for: The Raiders simply cannot lose this game. If Las Vegas wants to have any hope of making the playoffs moving forward, they have to win this one. Derek Carr has a big bounceback performance after having his worst game of the season against the Falcons and keeps his team in the playoff hunt.
— Tashan Reed
Raiders 37, Jets 17
What to watch for: The Jets are not 0-11 by accident. And yes, as Carr said, that Jets beat the crap out of them last year in New Jersey. But that has felt like a different team — even last week, when the defense kept them in the game in the first half. The Raiders should be able to run the ball with Devontae Booker, and Darren Waller is overdue for a breakout game. Heck, the Raiders might even get some sacks on Sunday.
— Vic Tafur
Raiders 43, Jets 6
What to watch for: The Jets have a surprisingly good run defense (fifth in yards per carry), so running against them won’t be a cakewalk, but I’d expect the Raiders running game to get back on track even with Jacobs out. I also think Hunter Renfrow will have a big day as a hot route option against some of the Jets blitzes. Rodney Hudson and Carr are excellent at identifying and reacting to blitz schemes and the Jets don’t have the cover guys to hold up if they don’t hit home. The Raiders’ defense played better than the score showed against the Falcons and they should be able to pressure Darnold into some mistakes.
— Ted Nguyen
Raiders 38, Jets 20
What to watch for: The Raiders told us before last week’s Falcons game that they were better than the 2019 team that was also 6-4 before going on the road and getting blown out in Week 12 by the Jets. And then they laid another Week 12 egg with that loss in Atlanta. If this was even a slightly mediocre Jets team, I might pick the Raiders to lose. But the Jets are just so, so, so bad and the defense should feel like it’s playing a worse version of the Broncos. And Carr and the offense has been too good this season to not play a heck of a lot better than last week. Carr throws for four touchdowns and Henry Ruggs III catches one.
— Jimmy Durkin
Raiders 31, Jets 17
What to watch for: This is basically the season. Right here. Week 13. If the Raiders lose to the Jets, stick a fork in them. A defeat on Sunday is not so far-fetched given what we saw from Las Vegas last week, and what happened last year against the Jets. At some point, you have to figure the Jets will put it together one time and get a win. If it happens on the Raiders’ watch, that would be three straight losses and mean they’d have to pretty much run the table after consecutive embarrassing losses. That’s why it won’t happen. The Raiders won’t lose to the Jets. Not this time … right?
— Marcus Thompson II
Raiders 31, Jets 13
What to watch for: If you’ve read this far, you must have some tiny thought that the Raiders theoretically could bungle this. And I’m going to agree with you in this way: The Raiders should and probably will win this game easily, but there is very little they’ve shown over the last few decades that proves that they will do exactly what they should against a far lesser team that hasn’t just been beaten in every game this season but also has been out-gained every week. Which is very tough to do. Even if they’re only at half-speed, the Raiders should have this wrapped up by the second quarter. Now, if they start out at one-third-speed, then Raiders fans can really begin worrying.
— Tim Kawakami
