New Orleans Saints first MNF showdown could be one for the ages
By Jake Rajala
The New Orleans Saints will take a trip up to to the Allegiant Stadium in Week 2. You won’t want to miss this showdown.
The Saints and Raiders will face off on Monday night football for the Raiders’ first home game in Las Vegas. A team boasting two excellent head coaches and two talented quarterbacks will showcase their improvement from last year on the biggest stage.
The New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders last squared off in 2016. That game was an absolute thriller where the Saints lost heartbreakingly, with the Raiders winning on a two-point conversion. That game represented two teams that are far different from their stature now.
The New Orleans Saints aren’t the old Saints team that had an awful pass defense, and Drew Brees had to throw 400 passing yards to still come out with a high chance of losing.
The Saints’ newfound identity lies with their elite run defense, led by All-Pros Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis. The Saints pass defense has vastly improved with the rising Marshon Lattimore and Marcus Williams, while the additions of Malcolm Jenkins and Janoris Jenkins will heat things up as well.
The Oakland Raiders have shifted towards a rebuilding process since 2016, with shipping out Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. The team went 7-9 with little talent last year, and they managed to bring in several starters like a linebacker, Corey Littleton via free agency, and wide receiver, Henry Ruggs, through the draft.
Those pieces should be quality starters for a team that seems to have vastly improved on paper, and they could be playing very hard for their franchise’s first home game in Las Vegas. Let’s take a closer look at the key matchups between the AFC West team and NFC South team