The Philadelphia Eagles aim to end their three-game slump by securing a victory against the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday afternoon.
To preview the upcoming Week 15 clash, I consulted our counterparts at Silver And Black Pride. The talented Matt Holder generously answered my inquiries regarding this matchup. Let’s dive into the insights he provided.
1 – Could Kenny Pickett’s start be an improvement over Geno Smith at this point? Why or why not?
It can’t get much worse!
Geno has struggled significantly this season, displaying tendencies more akin to a rookie by holding onto the ball too long, taking excessive sacks, and making risky throws that result in turnovers. While these have been ongoing issues, the Raiders’ offense has missed out on the high-caliber throws that allowed Smith to mitigate these flaws during his time with the Seahawks.
After Geno’s injury in the game against the Broncos, Pickett made his debut for the Raiders and led two scoring drives, albeit in garbage time. He demonstrated better pocket mobility than Smith, which could help address some offensive line issues, along with being more decisive with his throws. Although I’m not overly optimistic, Pickett might currently be the best quarterback on the Raiders’ roster.
2 – What key matchup favors the Raiders in this game?
If Lane Johnson is absent, then the matchup of Maxx Crosby against Fred Johnson will be significant. While Crosby hasn’t been as dominant this season due to opponents focusing their efforts on him, he still has nine sacks and has excelled against the run with a career-high 25 tackles for loss.
If Johnson returns, then I’d highlight Brock Bowers as another crucial player. Defenses employ various strategies against Bowers, some treating him as a primary receiver while others focus on him as a tight end. Regardless, he remains challenging to contain, provided the Raiders can effectively deliver the ball to him—a consistent struggle this season.
3 – Where do the Eagles have an advantage in this matchup?
Even if Jalen Carter is sidelined again, the Eagles’ defensive line versus the Raiders’ offensive line creates a notable advantage. The Raiders have struggled significantly in the trenches this season, while the Eagles boast a deep and talented front four. Players like Jordan Davis, Jaelan Phillips, and Nolan Smith should excel on Sunday.
I’m particularly interested to see how rookie third-round pick Caleb Rogers performs. He made his regular season debut recently and has shown promise but will face a tougher challenge this week.
4 – If you could select one player from the Eagles to add to the Raiders, who would it be and why?
It’s somewhat amusing, as the Raiders had the chance to draft him but opted for Tyree Wilson instead: Jalen Carter.
As previously mentioned, the Raiders’ defensive line requires someone who can alleviate pressure off Crosby. Carter is among the elite interior pass-rushers in the league, and if his incident at Georgia hadn’t coincided with Henry Ruggs III’s incident, the Raiders likely would have selected him.
5 – Who will win this game and why? Given that the Eagles are currently favored by 11.5 points, what’s your score prediction?
I predict the Eagles will win, but I believe the Raiders will cover the spread. Philadelphia should dominate the trenches, potentially allowing Saquon Barkley to find his rhythm ahead of the playoffs. Nevertheless, the Eagles’ passing attack has its own issues, which could allow Las Vegas to stay competitive. Moreover, Pete Carroll showcased last week how he pays attention to the spread, causing some frustration in the betting community by kicking a late field goal to cover.
My final score prediction is 20-13 in favor of the Eagles.
