Raiders and Jets face off in a tight Week 8 matchup
Las Vegas seeks to end a four-game skid against New York, which has lost its last two contests.
By Jabari Long ·
The Las Vegas Raiders travel to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday to try and stop a four-game losing streak. They face the New York Jets, a team that has also dropped its last two games. The kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas has struggled on defense during its recent slide. The team has allowed nearly 36 points per game over the last four weeks. Those opponents included the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams. All of those teams entered the season with playoff aspirations. The Raiders lost by three points to both the Chiefs and the Bills in that stretch.
Offensively, the Raiders remain productive. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown for at least 240 yards in each of his last five games. He leads the league with 1,877 passing yards. In the most recent game, Cousins passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 loss to the Rams. The team is sixth in the NFL in scoring, averaging 26.1 points per game. However, the defense ranks 30th in run defense, giving up significant yards on the ground.
New York has faced its own challenges, particularly in the run game. The Jets average less than 100 rushing yards per game. Despite this, quarterback Geno Smith has been consistent. He is completing 70% of his passes and has accumulated 1,621 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only two interceptions. Receiver Garrett Wilson has 444 receiving yards and three scores. Running back Braelon Allen has 295 total yards and four touchdowns.
The Jets defense has been a strength for New York. It ranks fifth in the league, allowing only 187.7 passing yards per game. The unit has recorded eight takeaways and 19 sacks. Rookie David Bailey, the team's second overall draft pick, leads the group with 5.5 sacks. The Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins 28-25 on Sunday. That was Miami's first victory of the season. The Jets have also lost to Green Bay, Detroit, and Chicago this season.
Prediction markets on Kalshi show a very close game. A Raiders victory trades at $0.51 per share, implying a 51% probability. A Jets victory trades at $0.50, implying a 50% probability. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games 10,000 times, favors the Jets. It has New York winning in 59% of those simulations. The model projects a New York victory by five points.
The market also offers contracts on the margin of victory and total points. A Raiders win by more than 1.5 points trades at $0.48. A Jets win or a Raiders win by 1.5 points or fewer trades at $0.53. For the total score, a game exceeding 44.5 points trades at $0.51. A game finishing under 44.5 points trades at $0.52. The model predicts the teams will combine for nearly 50 points in the contest.
Both teams have shown an ability to create turnovers. The Raiders are tied for second in the league with 12 takeaways. The Jets have recovered seven fumbles. These factors suggest both offenses may have extra possessions. The game is expected to be competitive, with both quarterbacks capable of driving the team downfield. The Raiders aim to secure their first win in five weeks, while the Jets look to snap their two-game losing streak at home.
