While you consider NFL groups with passionate fanbases, it is powerful to miss the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders. And whereas which may not be absolutely on show on Saturday evening—it is exhausting to fill a stadium for a preseason sport, even in Dallas—each groups have enterprise to handle on the gridiron.
And what precisely is that enterprise? Nicely, whereas each groups will enter Preseason Week 3 with their rosters pretty established, there are at all times some positional battles that go all the way down to the wire.
Let’s examine a few of these out. This is every little thing you want to know concerning the Raiders vs. Cowboys sport.
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How you can Watch Raiders vs. Cowboys
Throughout the common season, the Dallas Cowboys normally get their fair proportion of time on nationwide tv. Throughout Week 3 of the preseason, although, America’s Crew will not be within the highlight.
When the groups take the sphere on Saturday, August 26, at 8 p.m. ET, the sport shall be airing on native TV and radio. For Vegas followers, which means Fox5 in Sin Metropolis. Los Angeles, the Bay Space, Salt Lake Metropolis, Hawaii, Bakersfield, Reno, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage will even have the ability to catch the sport on their native associates.
In Dallas, the motion shall be on CBS11.
For these fully out-of-market, streaming will even be obtainable on NFL+.
The Cowboys May Have Some Much less Glamorous Positions to Watch
On the planet of soccer, quarterbacks and large receivers at all times obtain a great deal of consideration. The opposite positions, nevertheless, are additionally vital elements of constructing out a roster. In Dallas’ closing preseason sport, a few of these different roles will come into the highlight.
A type of positions is kicker. Whereas Brandon Aubrey sits atop the depth chart, he hasn’t gotten a lot work in the course of the first two preseason contests. There isn’t any purpose to doubt his talents, however kicking is about rhythm and confidence. Dallas would most likely prefer to see him get some makes an attempt underneath his belt in Week 3, simply to ensure every little thing is working easily when the common season begins.
Cowboys followers will even have an eye fixed on the offensive line. Provided that depth is crucial within the trenches—bear in mind how the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs collapsed in Tremendous Bowl LV after accidents ravened their entrance? The preseason offers a precious alternative to see who could be relied upon. Take into account the likes of rookies Asim Richards and T.J. Bass. Can they present sufficient in the course of the closing week of preseason to show they are often relied upon? Or will they depart lingering doubts at the back of the teaching employees’s collective thoughts?
The Raiders Nonetheless Have Some Uncertainty at Quarterback
Talking of less-than-glamorous roles, let’s flip to the Las Vegas Raiders and their backup quarterback place.
Derek Carr has left Sin Metropolis, and Jimmy Garoppolo has taken over the beginning job. Brian Hoyer is nominally the quantity two possibility, however Aidan O’Connell is pushing him.
By way of the primary two video games of the preseason, the Purdue product has been placing on a present.
“He simply hasn’t missed a throw but,” Professional Soccer Focus head of soccer product Steve Palazzolo said on The Ross Tucker Podcast (H/T SI.com). “He is been unimaginable, massive time throws, easy working inside rhythm, exterior of rhythm, on time, correct. Aidan O’Connell is a kind of guys once you watched his finest performs at Purdue, he appeared like a primary rounder.”
Jimmy G and Aidan O’Connell work on the deep ball throughout their closing apply in Vegas forward of their closing preseason sport in Dallas in opposition to the Cowboys.
?: By @Sean_Zittel Vegas Sports activities At this time pic.twitter.com/k8i9fLbmzJ
— Vegas Sports activities At this time (@VegasSportsTD) August 24, 2023
Hoyer, alternatively, has struggled, leaving head coach Josh McDaniels with a choice to make. Will each quarterbacks make his energetic roster? Or has O’Connell proven sufficient to push Hoyer into the emergency QB position?
“It’s important to determine precisely how you’re feeling primarily based on the week and/or the scenario,” McDaniels stated, in line with Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “It wasn’t the identical guidelines, however a very long time in the past, we had [Doug] Flutie and [Matt] Cassel. And Doug was a veteran participant clearly, and Matt was a younger participant. So, you are making decisions primarily based on how you’d really feel about what occurs within the third quarter versus if we had a whole week to apply, and so on. It might change from one week to the subsequent.”
Possibly Preseason Week 3 will present a clue as to the top coach’s present intestine feeling.
Betting Line, Over/Underneath for Raiders vs. Cowboys
Whereas there are positional battles and a few common roster uncertainty—you by no means fairly know what number of snaps every participant will play within the preseason—the Raiders and Cowboys are nonetheless taking part in a soccer sport. That actuality means which you could place a guess on the motion.
As of Friday, August 25, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Las Vegas as a 5-point favourite. If you happen to favor the Over/Underneath, that line is presently set at 38.5 factors.
