Beginning this week, we’re going to try every opponent’s Anticipated Factors totals — by way of the nice individuals at Professional Soccer Reference — and put it within the context of the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ subsequent matchup. First up is the Las Vegas Raiders.

The chart above assigns an anticipated factors worth, primarily based on down and distance outcomes, to every facet of the ball and splits out the sport into the run and the move. For instance, the Packers’ +14.5 offensive quantity signifies that they’re enjoying 14.5 factors above the NFL common. The non-Packers and Raiders squads highlighted within the “Staff” column are future Packers opponents, for context.

Packers Offense vs. Raiders Protection

On paper, the largest benefit the Packers ought to have is within the offensive passing sport. Inexperienced Bay’s greatest unit relative to expectation is their +24.0 move sport, whereas the Raiders presently have the fourth-worst move protection within the league at -38.5.

Based on PFR, each of the Raiders’ beginning outdoors cornerbacks — Marcus Peters and rookie fourth-round choose Jakorian Bennett — have allowed over 200 yards within the air up to now this season. When focused, Peters is permitting a 101.1 passer ranking, and Bennett is permitting a 134.8 passer ranking, together with an 80 p.c completion proportion and a 12.4 yards per goal determine.

Clearly, the massive fear on the Raiders’ protection is obstructing up pass-rusher Maxx Crosby. With Chandler Jones now out of the image, although, Crosby is absolutely the one defender you need to fear about in Las Vegas.

Packers Protection vs. Raiders Offense

The massive matchup to focus on right here is the Packers’ run protection (-16.0) versus the Raiders’ run offense (-16.9). On paper, that is the worst run protection within the league towards the second-worst run sport within the NFL. Each groups must be taking a look at this chance as a shot to get again on observe, however somebody goes to depart Monday Evening Soccer severely disenchanted.

The story with the Raiders’ offense proper now’s that their offensive line has been fairly good in move safety this season, however they’ve actually struggled to dam groups on the bottom. That was till final week towards the Los Angeles Chargers when Khalil Mack introduced down backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell six occasions for sacks.

Earlier this week, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said that most popular beginning quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will begin towards the Packers, if he clears concussion protocol in time. We’ll should see if final week’s downside was on account of O’Connell being below middle or if the Raiders simply had a few simpler matchups to start out the season. In Week 1, Vegas performed the Denver Broncos — whose high pass-rusher, Randy Gregory, was simply launched after not performing just like the $70 million participant the Broncos signed him to be. In Week 2, the Raiders confronted off towards a Von Miller-less Buffalo Payments.