Two teams looking to snap their respective losing streaks will collide this Sunday, as the Las Vegas Raiders play their first game off a bye against the Dallas Cowboys, who are playing catch up in the AFC West. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Raiders have gone from 5-2 to 5-5 after three consecutive losses, the last being a 32-13 setback at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals at home. Las Vegas can still save its season, and a road game against the suddenly struggling Dallas Cowboys presents an opportunity. The Raiders, who are also 0-3 against the spread in their last three games overall, got a lukewarm performance from quarterback Derek Carr in the Cincy game. Carr completed 19 of 27 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Nevertheless, Raiders tight end Darren Waller dominated the Bengals’ pass defense with 116 receiving yards on seven receptions. As one of the best tight ends in the NFL today, Waller can continue his roll in Week 12 against the Cowboys’ stop unit that got torched by Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce. Defensively, Las Vegas’ pass rush can feel encouraged by the fact that Dallas’ offensive line has allowed five sacks for a 22-yard loss against the Chiefs.
The Raiders are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 road games.
Dallas looked completely different in Week 11’s 19-9 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs than the Cowboys team that destroyed the Atlanta Falcons in a 43-3 victory at home in Week 10. The Cowboys’ offense could not get it going against Kansas City. Dak Prescott was under a ton of pressure in the pocket and went 28/43 for 216 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. Moreover, it appears that wide receiver CeeDee Lamb might not be ready for Thursday’s game after suffering a head injury in the Chiefs game. A potential absence will further hurt Dallas’ passing attack that is already without Amari Cooper (injured reserve/COVID-19 list). The good thing for the Cowboys is that their receiving corps is deep, with the likes of Cedrick Wilson, Michael Gallup, and Dalton Schultz all capable of stepping up. The Cowboys can still take advantage of Las Vegas’ middling pass defense that entered Week 11 just 28th in interception rate and 16th in sack rate.
The Cowboys are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
