Raiders' banged-up secondary faces Chris Olave test in New Orleans
The short version
- Raiders are 2-0; Saints are 1-1 after a one-point overtime loss to the Lions
- Chris Olave has 76 receptions, 962 yards and six TDs in Tyler Shough's 11 starts
- Raiders rank 11th in the NFL with 368 passing yards allowed through two games
- Treydan Stukes is in concussion protocol; Darien Porter is limited with a foot injury
- Game kicks off Sunday at 4:25 PM EDT on CBS
Las Vegas brings the NFL's 11th-ranked pass defense into Week 3 against a Saints passing attack led by Tyler Shough and Chris Olave.
The Las Vegas Raiders take their 2-0 record on the road in Week 3, meeting the New Orleans Saints at the Caesars Superdome in an early test of whether their unbeaten start can survive a step up in opposition. The Saints arrive at 1-1, with their only blemish a one-point overtime defeat to the Detroit Lions. New Orleans closed last season on a strong run and is viewed around the league as a team on the rise.
The centerpiece of the matchup is the passing connection between Saints quarterback Tyler Shough and wide receiver Chris Olave. Shough has been New Orleans' starting quarterback for 11 games dating back to last season, and over that span Olave has caught 76 passes for 962 yards and six touchdowns.
Through the first two weeks of this season, the Shough-to-Olave pairing has ranked among the league's most effective at connecting on deep passes, a facet of their game that puts significant strain on opposing secondaries. Olave also moves around the formation, splitting his snaps roughly evenly between the outside receiver spots on the left and right and the slot, meaning no single Raiders defensive back will be able to shadow him exclusively.
Las Vegas's pass defense has held up well so far. The Raiders rank 11th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, having given up 368 through two games. But the unit has yet to face an aerial attack of New Orleans's caliber, and there are health concerns in the defensive backfield heading into Sunday.
Rookie free safety Treydan Stukes is in the concussion protocol. Cornerback Darien Porter, who started in Week 1, missed the Chargers game with a foot injury and was limited in the team's first practice of the week. The injuries could push rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses into the lineup. Masses is coming off an AFC Defensive Player of the Week performance that included two interceptions, though Sunday would mark only his second career start.
Veterans Eric Stokes and Taron Johnson have also struggled at times in coverage during the opening two weeks, adding further uncertainty to how the Raiders will attempt to contain Olave and the Saints' downfield passing game. Keeping Olave in check projects as the biggest key of the game for Las Vegas defensive coordinator Rob Leonard.
If the Raiders can slow Olave, they would move to 3-0 and remain perfect through the season's first month. For the Saints, a win over an unbeaten opponent would validate the early-season optimism surrounding Shough, Olave and a team that pushed Detroit to the brink in overtime.
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints kicks off Sunday, September 27 at 4:25 PM EDT at the Caesars Superdome. The game airs on CBS.
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