There was no fight to the Raiders in a 24-0 loss at New Orleans. How they respond could shape an entire season.
NFL
Bettors loaded up on the Raiders (-1½) over the Saints and the game to go over 48½. But they never stood a chance on either count in a 24-0 loss.
The schedule was supposed to soften. Instead, the Raiders did — melting Sunday into a Silver and Black puddle before another sellout Caesars Superdome crowd.
A schedule that softens the next four weeks should allow the Raiders to rally from a 2-4 record and put themselves in position for an eventual run at the playoffs.
For the past two decades, bettors could count on Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers to bounce back from a loss and not only win the next week, but cover. Those days are gone.
Josh Jacobs powered the Raiders to a victory Sunday and eclipsed his mentor’s franchise record for most rushing yards in a player’s first 50 games.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels: “We all want our quarterback to remain healthy as long as we can, so the goal is obviously the right goal. … It’s a fine line.”
The Steelers upset Tom Brady’s Buccaneers 20-18 as 9½-point underdogs, and the Jets whipped Aaron Rodgers’ Packers 27-10 as 8-point underdogs.
Time is ticking for the Raiders, who have already squandered a pair of 17-point leads and rank dead last in red-zone defense through five games.
Golden Knights fans haven’t lessened their loyalty after the team missed the postseason for the first time in franchise history. That was clear Thursday.
It’s only Week 6, but the NFL will serve up a pair of possible conference championship games Sunday in Bills-Chiefs and Eagles-Cowboys.
Kansas City was the better team in a 30-29 victory on “Monday Night Football” at Arrowhead Stadium, but it took everything the Chiefs had to send the Raiders home 1-4.
Maxx Crosby’s daughter hasn’t arrived, but the Raiders defensive end has as one of the NFL’s premier defenders. His next assignment: Patrick Mahomes on “Monday Night Football.”
Marco Piemonte isn’t a professional sports bettor and doesn’t sell his picks. He’s a Chicago-area car dealer who is married with three daughters ages 1, 3 and 6.
Caesars Sportsbook alone lost almost seven figures on the Raiders, and BetMGM lost six figures. The Westgate SuperBook and South Point reported losing days.