The Green Bay Packers meet the Las Vegas Raiders in Sin City for a Monday Night Football matchup featuring a Hall of Fame receiver meeting his former team for the first time. Who will have the last laugh as the clock strikes zero? What stats and players could be the difference between winning and losing?
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Green Bay Packers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Predictions
The Packers enter their Week 5 matchup ranked 12th in offensive EPA, 19th in success rate, 18th in defensive EPA, and 23rd in success rate. They are about as average as it gets through four games.
Meanwhile, the Raiders rank 20th in offensive EPA, 12th in success rate, 30th in defensive EPA, and 25th in success rate. They’re bad. The passing attack has been OK, but they’ve struggled running the ball, and Jimmy Garoppolo has already turned the ball over six times in three games.
The game pickers were nearly unanimous in their selections for Monday Night Football.
- Beasley: Packers
- Bearman: Packers
- Miller: Packers
- Morrison: Raiders
- Robinson: Packers
Packers Need A Davante Adams Answer
When the ball gets into the red area, everybody knows where it’s going next. Davante Adams has been targeted five times on passes inside the 10-yard line in 2023, according to Inside Edge. That is the second-most among WRs so far this season. His 12 targets a year ago were also second, and his four touchdowns were tied for fourth-most in 2022. And since 2018, Adams has 10 more receiving touchdowns than anybody else.
MORE: NFL Week 5 Winners and Losers
Adams’ targets don’t simply come from inside the 10, either. His 10 targets from inside of the 20 also lead all receivers, according to Sports Info Solutions.
But Adams is a complete target hog, independent of field position. He commanded 180 targets in 2022, which was topped only by Justin Jefferson. He has 50 of them through four games, and he missed snaps against the Bills during the blowout. His 844 targets since 2018 are 67 more than Stefon Diggs, who played six more games over that time.
Jordan Love Splits
Jordan Love has been magnificent when playing under center in 2023. He has completed 22 of his 31 attempts since Week 16 of 2022, which ranks fifth-best among 28 qualifying QBs. His 113.9 passer rating ranks seventh. Meanwhile, Love has only managed to complete 49 of his 95 pass attempts from shotgun this season, which ranks second-worst among 36 qualified quarterbacks.
Maxx Crosby and Rashan Gary
Rashan Gary has been on an absolute tear since returning from his midseason ACL tear a season ago. Although he’s still on a serious pitch count, it’s clear that he is ready to compete at the absolute highest level right now. Only Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett have posted a higher pressure rate in 2023, according to SIS.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have been outstanding in pass protection this season, particularly on the edge. Despite facing the Bills, Steelers, and Chargers, Kolton Miller has been fantastic once again this year.
But Jermaine Eluemunor has resembled a front entrance at a high-end hotel over the past two games. T.J. Watt and Khalil Mack had field days against him. That is the spot Gary can exploit. The Packers pass rusher lines up on either side situationally.
On the opposite sideline, Maxx Crosby has rounded into one of the league’s very best defensive players. Although his outrageous pressure numbers get a ton of attention, what makes him one of the best in the game is underappreciated.
Crosby is one of the best run defenders in the NFL. That’s an area of his personal skill set that has improved drastically since his college days. However, it’s his outrageous snap counts that are most impressive. Despite being the equivalent of a 40-minute player in the NBA, Crosby maintains outrageous efficiency and productivity despite playing over 60 snaps every single week.
Something’s gotta give. Packers right tackle Zach Tom has been outstanding so far, allowing zero sacks and only eight pressures through four games. However, Aidan Hutchinson didn’t get home against him in Week 4, but Tom allowed six pressures against the Lions.