NFL Las Vegas at Detroit Monday Night Football Free Pick

The concluding game of the NFL season’s eighth week finds the Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) visiting the Detroit Lions (5-2) Monday evening.

Vegas had won its previous couple of games before a 30-12 road rout against the Chicago Bears last Sunday.

Detroit had won four games in a row, then was slapped, 38-6, by the Ravens in Baltimore last week. What’s worse was the Ravens had played their previous game in London.

Detroit is a nine-point favorite (total at 46), according to NFL odds.

Moneyline is Lions -460, Raiders at +345.

It’s the Raider franchise with a 7-6 lead in the series, dating to the AFL-NFL merger.

Raiders’ Embarrassing Effort

This past Sunday’s 30-12 Las Vegas Raider loss to the Bears in Chicago was about as bad as it gets. The Silver and Black regressed mightily, sounding beaten by an undrafted Division II rookie quarterback.

It’s not as if the Raiders don’t have quarterback issues of their own, as Jimmy Garoppolo and his balky back are probably out once again.

Journeyman Brian Hoyer has not done all that much (231 passing yards, two interceptions) in two starts, notably hindering star wide Davante Adams (46 receptions, 528 yards, three touchdowns). Adams had 33 catches the first four games, just 13 catches in the last three.

The ground game is non-existent, too, a league-worst 68.6 yards per game. Josh Jacobs, fresh off a 1,653-yard, 12-touchdown 2022 season, has just 347 yards (2.9 yards/carry)

If there’s a bright spot with the Raiders, it’s the secondary (187.4 passing yards allowed per game, fifth in NFL).

Lions Were Roaring

The Detroit Lions come off 2023’s worst outing, a 38-6 debacle (having surrendered 503 yards) at Baltimore last Sunday. Whether that’s an outlier on the heels of a four-game win streak remains to be seen. 

Quarterback Jared Goff (1,902 yards, 11 touchdowns, four interceptions) did not have a touchdown pass against the Ravens, first time this season. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown (51 receptions, 557 yards. three touchdowns) and Sam LaPorta (35 receptions, 377 yards, three touchdowns) are the receivers of choice, while David Montgomery has a half-dozen ground scores. 

Detroit’s average of 377 yards/game ranks fourth in the league.

Detroit to Roll

The Las Vegas Raiders have too many unknowns and too many flaws here. Even if quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo returns, it’s not going to solve all the issues.

Getting torched by the Ravens should serve to slap the Detroit Lions squarely in the face.

There are any number of wagering options on this game, as per NFL props. If you’re a traditionalist, take the men of Motown -9. Go under, too.