MNF Week 8: Raiders-Lions Preview, Props, Prediction

Both teams in the Monday night matchup at Detroit want to erase some bad memories from last week. The NFC North-leading Lions were humbled by the Baltimore Ravens, 38-6. The Las Vegas Raiders got thumped by the Chicago Bears and their backup quarterback, Tyson Bagent, 30-12. Lions coach Dan Campbell said the Raiders feel “much like we feel. What they just went through last week is not indicative of who this team is. This is a dangerous team.”

Detroit (5-2) heard nationwide-praise after taking control of its division with road wins over defending Supel Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs as well as the Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions’ visit to Baltimore turned into a debacle, though, as the Ravens rolled for touchdowns on their first four drives.

“We’ve got to bounce back, but we will,” Campbell said. “We’ll be ready to go.”

Detroit played without power back David Montgomery last week due to a rib injury and will again vs. the Raiders. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, amassed 126 total yards in Montgomery’s absence and scored the Lions’ lone touchdown. “I saw an improving player,” Campbell said. “He took a step up and that’s all you can ask for — growth.” Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 284 yards, but most of it came on short completions after the team fell way behind. He didn’t toss a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

Goff also was sacked a season-high five times. Now he will face a pass rush led by Maxx Crosby, who has 6 1/2 sacks to follow up his career-best 12 1/2 last season. “What does he not do well? I would start there,” Campbell said of Crosby. “I don’t know what that would be. … He’s a master of his craft.” The Raiders (3-4) were held to 235 yards of total offense by Chicago as they played without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who was sidelined by a back injury. Garoppolo returned to practice on Thursday and is “good to go” for Monday, the team said.

Even with Garoppolo, the Las Vegas offense has stalled. The Raiders are averaging just 16 points per game, third worst in the NFL. Asked if the play-calling needed to be more aggressive, Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels responded, “There’s definitely elements of that. You can point to a number of different things that we could do a little bit better. I don’t think we have to do everything different. I think we have to do a lot of little things a little bit better.”

Raiders quarterbacks have thrown four more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (8). On Monday, Las Vegas will face a game-wrecking defensive lineman, Aidan Hutchinson, who has 4 1/2 sacks but none in the past two games. “If you ever stop playing before the play is over,” McDaniels said, “that’s when he really makes a lot of plays.” Getting the running game going would help Garoppolo. Josh Jacobs, who led the league with 1,653 rushing yards last season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, has been held to 347 rushing yards and 2.9 yards per carry this year.

Star receiver Davante Adams has caught three touchdown passes this season after hauling in an NFL-best 14 during his first season with the Raiders in 2022. Adams hasn’t caught a scoring pass in the past four games while being limited to 75 or fewer receiving yards each time.

Montgomery was ruled out by the team Saturday. Offensive linemen Frank Ragnow (toe, calf) and Jonah Jackson (ankle) were among the Lions who sat out practice on Thursday. Cornerback Marcus Peters (back), linebacker Divine Deablo (ankle) and placekicker Daniel Carlson (groin) didn’t participate in Las Vegas’ Thursday practice. –Field Level Media