The Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints are two of the most surprising teams in the NFL through two weeks. Vegas has impressed after winning their first two games of the season. The offense is looking much better under Klint Kubiak's leadership and the defense finally has reinforcements around Maxx Crosby.
Meanwhile, the Saints nearly got a huge win over the Lions in Week 1. But perhaps more impressive, they actually got the job done in Week 2 against the Ravens. Now the Saints look like they're in the driver's seat as they compete for an NFC South title.
Both teams have a lot to play for in Week 3, which should make for an exciting matchup.
But which team will come out on top in this one? And should the losing team be worried to drop such a winnable game so early in the season?
Here are three bold predictions before the Raiders and Saints do battle in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.
Watch NFL games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)Tyler Shough continues hot streak, shreds Raiders defense for massive yardage
The solid play of Shough is one big reason why the Saints are nearly 2-0 through two weeks.
Shough lit up the Lions in Week 1, logging 410 passing yards and three touchdowns mostly in the second half and overtime. He took a bit of a step back in Week 2, only managing 252 passing yards against the Ravens.
So which version of Shough will show up in Week 3?
This is arguably the most important question for either team ahead of this game. At this point, Shough appears to have greater upside than either Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza. If that becomes reality in Week 3, that gives New Orleans an incredible advantage that could result in a big win.
The prediction here is taht Shough will throw for at least 375 passing yards against Las Vegas. There's a deliciously bold reason for picking that yardage total.
Vegas has played well against the pass through two weeks. In fact, they've only allowed 184 passing yards per game this season. That is an impressive accomplishment, but they haven't ran into a team quite like the Saints just yet.
If Shough puts up at least 368 passing yards, he'll double up the average passing yards against the Raiders' defense. A performance like that would keep Shough's name in the headlines and impress New Orleans' coaching staff.
Go have a big game, Shough!
Ashton Jeanty will set new career bests for total yards, touchdowns against Saints
Vegas needs Jeanty to be on his game for its offense to operate at peak efficiency.
The second-year running back excels at creating yards after contact and can make a big play on almost any play. Jeanty is also a capable receiver out of the backfield, so he's dangerous on every single snap.
Vegas would be wise to feature Jeanty against the Saints. Not only would it take some pressure of Kirk Cousins, but it would put the ball in their best player's hands.
Jeanty will finish this game with 190+ all-purpose yards and at least three touchdowns. That would exceed his production against the Texans from 2025 when he had 188 total yards and two touchdowns.
Think that sounds too bold? Well not so fast.
Remember, the Saints allowed Jahmyr Gibbs to rack up 186 all-purpose yards with two touchdowns back in Week 1.
Jeanty could pull off this monster feat if the Raiders commit to running their offense through him. It will be exciting to see if he can pull this off on Sunday.
Saints hand Raiders their first loss of the Klint Kubiak era in Week 3
On paper, this could be one of the best games on the entire Week 3 slate. But that will require both defensive units to hold up against a high-powered opponent.
This game could very easily come down to home field advantage. If the game truly is that close, the Saints have a great chance of coming away with a victory on Sunday.
The Saints will come out on top in this one thanks to an explosive offensive performance. New Orleans will score at least 27 points and win by at least one touchdown.
As for the Raiders, they come out of this one still looking good at 2-1. But the fans may start calling for Fernando Mendoza after seeing Shough play so well in just his second NFL season.