Drew Brees, Saints brace for rising Raiders

The Raiders have not made the playoffs since 2003. The question was whether they were going to pay Brees what he deserved. Receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree accounted for nearly half of Carr’s targets. The Saints only have the newly resigned Brees for two more years and must make the most of these years. Over those two seasons, 2016 and 2017, Brees is set to earn a whopping $44.25 million in guaranteed money.

However, Oakland does have the better defense over New Orleans.

The Oakland Raiders got off to a decent 4-3 start in 2015 before dropping three straight games and ending with a 7-9 record. Oakland has lost its last four season openers. He had 12 sacks and 23 tackles for loss past year, and he can ruin any series throughout the game. He also has the power to bull-rush a guard on the interior. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead is questionable with knee and quad injuries and was limited in practice all week. Saints’ 2006 fourth-round pick RG Jahri Evans expected to start after being re-signed this week.

New Orleans has struggled on the offensive line in pass and run-blocking.

The Raiders are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games against the Saints.

Without defensive end Mario Edwards, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. must experiment with defensive line combinations to ensure running back Mark Ingram doesn’t gash the run defense. But Oakland maintained its composure on the road, covering in five of its final six road dates and claiming outright wins over the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos as road underdogs.

The running attack of the Raiders also needs to play a factor into this game. That’s a blow to a defense considered weak in coverage, one that finished dead last in pass defense previous year.

On Tuesday, the Saints cut kicker Kai Forbath and brought in rookie Wil Lutz.

The new middle linebacker hopes that working against Brees will have them prepared for Carr, Cooper and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. “They all happen in due time, they all happen when they’re supposed to”, Brees told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday after the extension was announced. “I think that’s kind of been there mentality and that’s why they are in the position that they’re in”.

PREDICTION: The expectations are sky-high for a Raiders teams that believes they have a legitimate chance at winning the AFC West. That revamped unit will get an intriguing early test.

Brees owns Saints franchise records in virtually every passing category, having thrown for 48,555 yards and 348 touchdowns in 10 seasons with the club, which signed him as a free agent after San Diego decided not to offer Brees an extension and elevate Philip Rivers to starter. Of course, they also haven’t been a good team.