Cincinnati Bengals vs Las Vegas Raiders Picks and Predictions November 3rd 2024

Bengals vs Raiders November 3rd 2024

The Bengals are heavily favored as they host the Raiders at 1:00 ET on Sunday, November 3rd at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Bengals’ money line odds are -359, while the Raiders are at +287. The Raiders are +7.5 point underdogs on the road. This week nine AFC matchup is being televised on FOX, and the over/under line is set at 46.5 points.

Las Vegas vs. Cincinnati Key Information

Heading into week 9, the Raiders are looking to snap a four-game losing streak, which includes a 27-20 loss to the Chiefs in week 8. Las Vegas was a 8.5-point underdog in that game, but they managed to cover the spread. Prior to that, they also covered against the Rams in week 7, despite losing 20-15. The Raiders are 4-4 against the spread this season, with all of their ATS wins coming as underdogs.

With a 2-6 record, the Raiders are 28th in our NFL power rankings and have just a 2.6% chance of making the playoffs. They are currently 4th in the AFC West and 0-3 in division games. In conference play, they are 2-4, with their two wins coming against the Browns and Ravens.

Heading into week 9, the Raiders rank 32nd in our offensive power rankings. They are 26th in the NFL in points per game (18) and 27th in yards per game (288.1). Las Vegas ranks 17th in passing yards per game (209.1) despite being 6th in passing attempts. They are 23rd in rushing attempts and 31st in rushing yards, averaging just 79 per game. The Raiders are 24th in the NFL in 3rd-down conversion percentage (33%) but are 10th in red zone conversion percentage.

In week 8, Gardner Minshew II threw for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 24 of 30 passes. He was sacked 5 times. Alexander Mattison struggled on the ground, with just 15 yards on 14 carries. Brock Bowers led the team with 5 catches for 58 yards.

Despite their 27-20 loss to the Chiefs, the Raiders’ defense held Kansas City to just 82 yards rushing on 29 attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per attempt. They allowed 252 passing yards on 27 completions, with a couple of passing touchdowns. The Raiders’ defense forced one interception and limited the Chiefs to a 25% third-down conversion rate.

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However, Las Vegas struggled to defend the run, allowing the Chiefs to gain 334 total yards. Offensively, the Raiders had a tough time in the pass rush, managing only one sack and losing the tackles for loss differential by -4. Opposing quarterbacks completed 71.1% of their passes against Las Vegas.

The Bengals were unable to capitalize on their home-field advantage in week 8, falling 37-17 to the Eagles. Cincinnati entered the game as 2.5-point favorites but couldn’t get the win, dropping their record to 3-5. After two straight road wins, including a 21-14 victory over the Browns in week 7, the Bengals couldn’t keep their momentum going. They are now 0-4 at home but 3-1 on the road.

Heading into week 9, the Bengals rank 19th in our power rankings and have a 25.7% chance of making the playoffs. They are 4-4 against the spread this season, with an average scoring margin of -1. Their O/U record is 5-3, with their games averaging 49.8 points.

Heading into week 9, the Bengals rank 7th in our offensive power rankings. They are 11th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game, and 17th in total offense, with 325.2 yards per game. Joe Burrow threw for 234 yards (26/37) in week 8, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Cincinnati converted 10 of 13 third downs in that game and scored 2 touchdowns on 3 red zone trips.

In the run game, the Bengals rank 28th in the NFL, with 89.8 rushing yards per game, on 22.1 attempts per game. Chase Brown led the team with 32 rushing yards on 12 carries in week 8. Tee Higgins, who had 82 yards in week 7, is questionable for week 9 with a hamstring injury.

In their 37-17 loss to the Eagles, the Bengals’ defense allowed Philadelphia to convert on 54.5% of their third down attempts. The Bengals gave up 161 rushing yards on 39 attempts, with the Eagles totaling 397 yards of offense. Cincinnati’s defense struggled to pressure the quarterback, failing to record any sacks and losing the QB hit battle by a margin of -3. Despite this, they did win the tackles for loss battle, recording two more tackles for loss than the Eagles. The Eagles also averaged 11.8 yards per pass attempt against the Bengals.

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the Bengals to cover as 7.5-point favorites in this week nine matchup against the Raiders. We have the Bengals winning by a score of 27-14.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 41 points and the line sitting at 46.5 points.

Bengals and Raiders Confront Early Season Realities Amid Rough Starts

The Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders both began this NFL season with big dreams but find themselves facing uphill battles as they head into November. The Bengals, now 3-5, are still seeking their first home victory of the season as they prepare to host the 2-6 Raiders on Sunday.

Cincinnati Struggles to Find Offensive Rhythm

Coming off a demoralizing 37-17 loss at home to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bengals sit winless (0-4) in their stadium this season. The loss was particularly disheartening as fans began to exit the stadium with over ten minutes left in the game, underscoring the frustration surrounding the team’s lackluster performances at home.

The Bengals’ offense, once a powerhouse, has sputtered over the past three games, failing to reach 20 points in each contest. This dip in production follows a promising stretch where the team scored over 30 points for three straight games. Quarterback Joe Burrow is fully aware of what’s at stake as they aim to turn the season around.

“(The urgency is) as high as it can be,” Burrow said. “This is a must-win game. We’re 3-5. You go to 3-6, you basically have to win out. We’ve done it before. I know the players we have. You have to treat it week by week. Any game is winnable. You’ve just got to go and do it.”

The Bengals’ rushing attack ranks 28th in the NFL, averaging just under 90 yards per game. In last Sunday’s game, the run game was especially ineffective, with backs Chase Brown and Zack Moss managing just 43 yards on a combined 17 carries. Head coach Zac Taylor expressed confidence that his team can still turn things around.

“We’ve put ourselves in a bad spot, but it’s not a spot that we can’t get ourselves out of,” Taylor noted. “I know that we believe that. We’re not even yet at the halfway point of the season. There’s going to be a lot of opportunity here. We’ve just got to stick together and keep working, find some wins and string it together.”

Raiders’ Red Zone Woes Continue

The Raiders, meanwhile, are coming off a narrow 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a game that highlighted their red zone struggles. Converting just 50% of their red zone opportunities (2-for-4) and only one out of three goal-to-go situations, the Raiders have struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who took over the starting role, was candid about the team’s need to improve in critical moments.

“It’s really frustrating. That’s obviously something we have to be better at,” Minshew said. “We’ve been getting down there a few times; the defense put us down there a couple times. We’ve got to be able to get it in the end zone, point blank, period, if we want to be the team we’ve got to be.”

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The game’s turning point came in the third quarter when the Raiders had a golden opportunity to take the lead from the Chiefs, holding possession at the 3-yard line. However, they were unable to convert, ultimately getting stopped on fourth down after a Minshew sack. Adding to their struggles, the Raiders were flagged five times, stalling promising drives and costing them valuable yardage.

Head coach Antonio Pierce acknowledged the team’s difficulties in seizing momentum, pointing to areas where improvements are crucial.

“You can’t kill yourselves,” Pierce said. “We’ve got great opportunities like we did twice in the third quarter to get points on the board. We’ve got to do that. I don’t think you ever try to coach or play the game perfect. You do the best you can but, obviously, they were better in a lot of areas than us.”

Injury Concerns on Both Sides

Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players as they prepare for Sunday’s game. For the Raiders, center Andre James (ankle) and linebacker Robert Spillane (knee) missed practice sessions, which could impact the team’s already inconsistent offensive rhythm. Meanwhile, the Bengals are keeping an eye on offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (knee/fibula) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (quadricep), both of whom were absent from practice. Joe Burrow, however, was a full participant despite nursing a wrist injury.

A Rematch of the 2021 Playoff Clash

Sunday’s game marks the first meeting between the Bengals and Raiders since their 2021 wild-card matchup, where Cincinnati emerged with a 26-19 victory, snapping a 31-year playoff drought. Historically, the Raiders lead the all-time series 21-13, including a 2-1 edge in postseason matchups, though Cincinnati has taken five of the last six games in the rivalry.

Both teams find themselves at a pivotal moment in the season. The Bengals, with Super Bowl hopes, are working to get back on track and rediscover their offensive edge, while the Raiders are aiming to break a skid of missed opportunities. With so much on the line, Sunday’s clash will be a defining moment for both franchises.