The Week 7 meeting between the Houston Texans and the Las Vegas Raiders is a key one for the Silver and Black. With a record of 1-4, the Raiders’ game against the 1-3-1 Texans might be their last chance to save the season. We’ll make some bold Raiders Week 7 predictions before this Raiders-Texans game.
Despite having enormous hopes going into 2022, the Raiders have had a difficult time winning games this year. Despite its dismal record, the club consistently hovers on the verge of victory. The team’s four losses have all been by a margin of one possession and a combined 14 points. Even if the playoffs may already be out of the question, a defeat by the Texans would be disastrous.
Even though the Texans’ schedule this season was among the easiest in the NFL, they only achieved one victory. Losses to the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos demonstrate how awful the team can be. But the Raiders had best show up to play on Sunday after they tied the Indianapolis Colts and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars.
With a Raiders victory in Week 7, Las Vegas could be able to reclaim a playoff place in a year where only a few teams are cruising to the postseason. But if they go to 1-5, things in Sin City will undoubtedly become ugly. Here are four audacious Raiders Week 7 predictions in light of that.
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4. The Raiders struggle in the red zone
The Raiders’ difficulties in the red zone are one of their main issues under Derek Carr. This issue also isn’t brand-new. According to TeamRankings.com, the squad only scored touchdowns on 49.23% of their inside-the-20 trips in 2021. It has gone worse this season, falling to 47.37%, the eighth-worst mark in the NFL.
Things won’t get much simpler when the Raiders play the Texans in Week 7 of the season. Due to a hamstring injury, tight end Darren Waller was unable to practise on Wednesday and might not be available on Sunday. He is a major red zone threat, therefore losing him will be detrimental to the cause.
The Texans’ bend-but-don’t-break defence is another strength this season. With 2,071 yards allowed per game, the Houston defence ranks 13 in the league. With only 99 points allowed, the defence is tied for fourth in the NFL.
These elements add up to the first audacious Raiders Week 6 prediction: the squad will once again struggle in the end zone.
3. Davante Adams continues his hot streak
How should red zone struggles be addressed? Outside of the 20-yard line, score. In the Raiders-Texans game, the Raiders can do this by feeding Davante Adams.
DAVANTE. ADAMS.
: #LVvsKC on ESPN
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/qRoro7dq9P pic.twitter.com/TtpKBzDguJ— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2022
Adams made a big impression in Vegas with 10 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ season-opening defeat. In his following two games, he combined for seven receptions for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Josh McDaniels and Carr started feeding Adams once more in the team’s Week 4 victory over the Broncos and the one-point defeat to the Chiefs in Week 5. In these games, he had nine receptions for 101 yards and three receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns, respectively.
Allowing Adams to eat frequently and early is crucial to the Raiders’ Week 7 success.
2. The Raiders defense turns the Texans over
Although the Raiders’ offensive difficulties are well known, the defence has also experienced problems. In contrast to the Texans’ defence, the team’s defence has had a poor season. The Raiders defence is sixth in the league for fewest yards allowed (1,796) but 19th in the league for most points allowed (130).
Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones are two of the top pass rushers in the league, but Las Vegas has the second-fewest sacks in the league through five games.
Turnovers are also difficult to come by because the quarterback is not under any pressure. With just three turnovers during the whole season, the Raiders and the Washington Commanders are tied for last place.
The Texans and Raiders are both coming off of bye weeks, so hopefully they resolved their pass-rush problems last week. Since the Texans have only allowed five turnovers entire season while the Raiders have not, some of that luck will undoubtedly change in Week 7.
Due to this, the Raiders’ bold Week 7 prediction is that the Texans’ offence will lose the ball twice to the defence.
1. Raiders 24, Texans 13
The Raiders’ lone victory over the Broncos was the only game this season that wasn’t decided by a single possession. The Raiders will win this week with a score of 24-13, handily.
The Raiders simply have way too much skill to be this terrible, and on Sunday, the Raiders-Texans game in Las Vegas will demonstrate that talent mismatch. We’ll have to wait and see if this signals the beginning of a Silver and Black revival or if it’s just a fleeting bright spot in an otherwise gloomy season.
That being said, odds are on the home team to win easily in the Raiders-Texans Week 7 game.
Las Vegas Raiders: 4 audacious predictions for Week 7 matchup vs. Texans first appeared on ClutchPoints.
