Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos 2018: Prediction, Betting Odds, Preview For NFL Week 2

Jon Gruden's second stint as head coach of the Oakland Raiders didn’t get off to the best start when the Los Angeles Rams left the Bay Area with a 33-13 victory Monday night. It was far from surprising, and things might not get much better when the team visits the Denver Broncos in Week 2 Sunday afternoon.

Expectations for the Raiders in the 2018 NFL season have plummeted in recent weeks. Oakland’s betting odds to win Super Bowl LIII ranged from 15/1 to 30/1 at various sportsbooks during the preseason, but that number has jumped all the way up to 80/1 at the Westgate Las Vegas Super Book. It didn’t help that the team traded Khalil Mack for draft picks a little more than a week before the season opener.

“When you can run the ball like they ran in the second half, it's very hard to rush the passer,” Gruden told reporters after Monday’s loss. “Obviously, we didn't get to (Jared) Goff enough, and we didn't get to (Todd) Gurley enough. We'll take a good look at the reasons why we didn't.”

Could it be that Oakland dealt arguably the NFL’s best pass rusher? The Raiders’ defense was bad a season ago when it was led by the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. After losing their most productive player for no one that can help them in 2018, the unit is bound to be even worse this year.

Oakland’s defense was respectable over the first three quarters of the opener against L.A. The unit couldn’t keep it up for the entire game, and it might suffer the same fate in the team’s visit to Denver.

This isn’t the same Broncos’ offense that couldn’t move the ball a season ago. Even with three Case Keenum interceptions and routinely poor field position in Week 1, Denver managed to score 27 points in their win over the Seattle Seahawks. Rookies Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman gave the Broncos a much-improved running game, at least for one week.

Keenum’s three interceptions were nearly half the amount of picks he threw in 15 games for the Minnesota Vikings last season. The quarterback won’t match the career-high numbers he had a season ago. He’s also unlikely to commit as many turnovers as he did in the season opener.

Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas combined to grab 18 catches for 198 yards in Week 1. They are back to being one of the most dangerous wide receiver duos in football now that they have a competent quarterback.

Derek Carr also threw three interceptions in Week 1. The quarterback made several bad throws when he sensed pressure against the Rams. While Keenum no longer has to worry about a superstar pass rusher on the Raiders, Carr will have to deal with an All-Pro pass rusher on the Broncos.

If Mack doesn’t get to the quarterback better than anyone, that distinction belongs to Von Miller. The linebacker sacked Russell Wilson three times in Denver’s home opener, wreaking havoc with four total quarterback hits and seven tackles. Even against a good Oakland offensive line, Miller will still cause plenty of problems, just as he did last year when he recorded a sack in the Broncos’ 16-10 home victory over the Raiders.

It isn’t just Miller that will be putting pressure on Carr. With No.4 overall pick Bradley Chubb performing well in his regular-season debut, Denver had six sacks in Week 1, which was good for second in the NFL.

The Broncos did give up some big plays to the Seahawks, allowing them to nearly steal one at Mile High. Derek Carr, however, is not Russell Wilson. Look for Denver’s secondary to bounce back Sunday.

The Raiders have lost by an average of 17 points in their last five games outside of Oakland. In their last seven road games, the Raiders have just one win both straight up and against the spread, per OddsShark.

Denver is a six-point favorite at home, and the over/under is 45.

Prediction: Denver over Oakland, 30-20