In one of the better offensive clashes of the NFL's Week 2 slate, the Cardinals host the Raiders in an interconference showdown. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals got run over by the high-flying Chiefs 44-21 in Week 1, while Derek Carr and the Raiders fell to the Chargers 24-19. Both squads will look to build off strong debut performances from their stud offseason additions at receiver, Marquise Brown for the Cards and Davante Adams for Vegas.
Adams wasted little time dominating for the Raiders, hauling in a staggering 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Brown had four grabs for 43 yards and a TD in his Cards debut. In DeAndre Hopkins' absence (six-game suspension), Arizona enjoyed a surprise breakout game from Greg Dortch, who notched seven receptions for 63 yards. Overall, both offenses struggled to put more than a few scores on the board, and neither defense fared well on third downs or in the red zone.
What can we expect from this desert battle between strong passing offenses? Let's dive in, analyze the stats and betting trends, and find all the betting angles to attack this weekend.
NFL WEEK 2 PICKS: Best Bets | Straight up | ATS
Here's everything to know about wagering on Cardinals vs. Raiders, including updated odds, trends, storylines, and our prediction.
Raiders vs. Cardinals odds for Week 2
Betting odds from Sports Interaction
- Spread: Raiders -5.5
- Over/under: O 51.5 (-110) | U 51.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Raiders -245 | Cardinals +195
In the preseason, BetQL data shows that the Raiders were modest -2.5 favorites for this game, but the line jumped to -3 in August and then to -5.5 and -6 after Week 1. It then reduced back to -5.5, with Vegas also hovering right around the -230 to -250 range, depending on sportsbooks. The over/under total, which flat-lined at 51 all summer, jumped up to 52 last week, jumped back down to 51, and then rested at 51.5. BetQL sharp betting reports show that nearly 75-percent of tickets for this game have pounded the OVER. So far, the public leans toward Vegas on the moneyline (58 percent of money/64 percent of tickets) and against the spread (66 percent of money/55 percent of tickets).
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Raiders vs. Cardinals all-time series
These organizations have only faced each other 10 times, with the Raiders leading the series 6-4. The Cardinals have won two of the past three meetings, but the Raiders won 23-21 when they last met in November 2018. Five of the past eight meetings between these franchises have been decided by three or fewer points.
Raiders vs. Cardinals: Three trends to know
—Las Vegas was just 4-5 against the spread and 1-3 ATS as home favorites last season.
—Arizona was 6-1 as an away underdog and 4-1 ATS in non-conference games last year.
—The Cardinals were 6-2 last season when they committed zero turnovers. The Raiders ranked 31st of 32 teams in turnover percentage last season (7.3 percent), and had zero takeaways against the Chargers last week.
Raiders vs. Cardinals: Three things to watch
Will Arizona's passing offense thrive without DeAndre Hopkins?
With or without Hollywood Brown, losing Hopkins for six-games due to a performance-enhancing drug suspension was a brutal blow for Kliff Kingsbury's squad. The former All-Pro stretches the field and makes plays most wideouts could only dream of pulling off. Especially facing off against Davante Adams — arguably the best receiver in the world — it will be difficult to knock off the Raiders without 'Nuk. Brown showed flashes of brilliance in his Cards debut, and both he and tight end Zach Ertz hauled in TDs while RB James Conner scored one on the ground. Three TDs didn't account for half of the Chief's 44 points, though, nor will three TDs cut it against the Raiders at home this week. Vegas ranked in the top 10 in home passing yards last season with 257.8, and that was before adding Adams to a pass-catching corps that already included stud tight end Darren Waller and elite slot receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Will the Cardinals' James Conner and Raiders' Josh Jacobs see TD regression?
Conner and Jacobs both enjoyed banner 2021 seasons, with the Arizona back accruing 18 total TDs (15 on the ground) and the Vegas RB1 topping out at nine TDs. Neither back seemed particular impressive between the 20s, with Conner averaging 3.7 yards per carry and Jacobs netting a flat 4.0. Both RBs lost their lead change-of-pace/receiving backs in the offseason, with Chase Edmonds departing for Miami via free agency and Kenyan Drake getting cut by Vegas before the start of the season. It will be interesting to see if either RB can replicate the success they achieved in the '21 campaign. Jacobs logged 57 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, but game script took him off the field for head coach Josh McDaniels' old Patriots buddy Brandon Bolden for much of the second half. Conner did reach the end zone against the Chiefs, but he managed just 26 yards on 10 attempts.
Will the Raiders become a dominant offense under Josh McDaniels?
McDaniels' stint with the Raiders marks his second foray into an AFC West head coaching world in a little over a decade, the first being with Denver in 2009-'10. The Broncos went 8-8 in his debut season as HC, but he suffered through a 3-9 season in '10. Time will tell if McDaniels will find even a fraction of the success he enjoyed during his two tenures as offensive coordinator of Bill Belichick's Patriots, but he has a long way to go when it comes to building his legacy. The Raiders do have a strong nucleus: a good QB in Carr, a superb pass-catching corps, a good power runner, and an above-average pass-rush led by Maxx Crosby and former Patriot and Cardinal Chandler Jones. But PFF ranks their secondary 29th in the NFL and ranks their offensive line at No. 28. They still have too many question marks to be considered an elite team anytime soon, especially in their loaded division.
Raiders vs. Cardinals: Stat that matters
1-4. That's Arizona's record in the past five games without Hopkins in the lineup, dating back to November of last season. The Cardinals went 8-2 when Hopkins suited up in 2021.
Raiders vs. Cardinals: Prediction
The Raiders have home-field advantage and a better offense, so they deserve to be moneyline favorites. However, Vegas still has far too many unanswered questions on both sides of the ball to be favored by almost a touchdown on the spread. We're going with the Cards to continue their run as away-dog cover kings, building off the glimpses of success we saw from Marquise Brown, Greg Dortch, and Zach Ertz in Week 1. Go against the crowd and bet on the underdogs here -- just don't touch the moneyline a 10-foot pole.
PREDICTION: Raiders 28, Cardinals 24. Arizona covers (+5.5) and the game just barely goes OVER (51.5).
