Two struggling teams will meet in Week 17 of the NFL season when the Las Vegas Raiders visit the New Orleans Saints. Neither of these teams will be appearing in the playoffs this season, but they still have plenty to play for in terms of draft positioning and trying to finish their seasons on a high note. New Orleans is a 2.5-point favorite going into this contest, while the total has been set at 39.5 points.
Before the Raiders and Saints do battle on Sunday afternoon, be sure to keep reading to get our preview of this contest. You will find our keys to this game, along with our best bet, which is the product of many projections using our industry-leading NFL betting models. While the action on the field in this Raiders vs Saints clash might not be the best, the betting action still has the potential to be great.
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Can Raiders Snag Second Straight Win?
Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders got a win at home over the Jacksonville Jaguars in another battle of teams that have played poorly this season. Aidan O’Connell and the Raiders offense did just enough to win that game, with the Raiders defense holding Jacksonville to just 14 points. Now, they head to Caesars Superdome looking for a second straight win, even if a second straight win could be costly in terms of the team’s draft positioning.
Even with their win on Sunday against the Jags, the Raiders have been held under 20 points in six straight games entering Week 17. Their offense is clearly their top priority going into the next NFL Draft and free agency period. But for now, the Raiders will look to build on their win over Jacksonville and try to eclipse the 20-point mark for the first time since November 3.
Saints Look to Overcome Short Prep Week
The New Orleans Saints were eliminated from postseason contention before their Monday Night Football game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16. Now the Saints will come into Week 17 out of the postseason race and on a short week of rest after playing on Monday night. And with plenty of injuries to deal with on offense, the Saints may have trouble moving the football at home against the Raiders in this contest.
Running back Alvin Kamara has been ruled out for the remainder of the season for the Saints, while quarterback Derek Carr has missed some time recently as well. Carr coming back for this game would provide the Saints with a massive boost offensively. But with the Saints being out of the postseason hunt, New Orleans has no incentive to rush him back and risk his health before the 2025 season either.
Raiders vs Saints Prediction
We are going to take the under in this Raiders vs Saints contest from the Superdome. New Orleans is missing several key pieces to their offense in this game, while the Raiders haven’t hit the 20-point mark in nearly two months. Expect a dreary and low-scoring game between these teams who are already looking ahead to 2025.
