New York Giants vs Las Vegas Raiders: Bold predictions for Week 9, including Davante Adams’ performance
The (2-6) New York Giants will travel to Allegiant Stadium to take on the (3-5) Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
This is a matchup between two of the most disappointing teams this season. The Giants rank last in several statistical categories, such as points scored (95), point differential (-92), and yards per game (267.9), and are coming off an inconceivable 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
The Raiders lost 26-14 to the Detroit Lions on Monday, then they fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler. Then, the Raiders interim head coach and former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce shook things up by announcing that rookie Aidan O’Connell would be the starting quarterback replacing Jimmy Garoppolo.
It’s not expected that we’ll see an offensive explosion between the 31st and 32nd-ranked offenses, but stranger things have happened. Here are our five bold predictions for the game.
Related: NFL games today: Giants vs Raiders delivers intriguing matchup for Week 9 Sunday NFL schedule
Daniel Jones will throw two first-half touchdowns
After being a full participant this week at practice, Daniel Jones is poised to make his return on Sunday after missing the last three games with a neck injury. Jones will be without his favorite target Darren Waller who is out with a hamstring injury, but New York may get their two starting offensive tackles back in Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal.
In his five games this season, Jones has thrown just two touchdown passes and has thrown for less than 150 yards in three of those games. The expectations for this game are low for the 26-year-old quarterback considering he missed almost a month of action, and he’s facing the Raiders’ ninth-ranked pass defense (197 yards per game). But Jones will shock many and start the game off hot by throwing two touchdowns in the first half.
Related: Week 9 fantasy rankings: Best, QB, RB, WR and TEs to start, sit
Davante Adams will have a game-high 10 receptions
Another issue for Las Vegas is that their best player wide receiver Davante Adams is extremely frustrated. On Monday night he was targeted seven times but only had one reception for 11 yards as Garoppolo missed him on what would have been two long touchdowns.
Look for O’Connell to look for the 30-year-old superstar receiver early and often. New York will likely put rookie Deonte Banks on Adams as the rookie has done an impressive job covering elite receivers. But on Sunday Adams will get the better of him and the rest of the Giants secondary as he will have a game-high 10 receptions.
Related: See where the Giants and Raiders land in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Kayvon Thibodeaux will have another three-sack performance
Earlier this season, some were trying to label Thibodeaux a bust. But the second-year pass rusher has quickly silenced his critics as he’s had eight and a half sacks over the last six games.
