The Cleveland Browns will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time in over two months when they host the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.  Cleveland got back in the win column last week with an important 24-22 divisional win against the Ravens.   The Raiders, on the other hand, were blown out 48-9 in Kansas City and now sit last in the AFC West.

As of Thursday afternoon, Las Vegas is a 1-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 38.5.  Keep an eye on the line though, as it could significantly shift based on Cleveland’s COVID situation.  The Browns originally opened as 6.5-point favourites before the COVID outbreak, while the total has plummeted from its 43.5 opening.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Raiders have come out on top in the last three meetings between these teams, including a 16-6 decision in Cleveland last year.  The total has gone Under in five of the last seven head-to-heads.

Las Vegas’ miserable season continues and they come into Saturday with losses in five of their last six games.  They’ve been a terrible cover option, going 5-8 against the spread overall and 1-5 ATS in their last six.  Dating back to last season, the total has gone Over in 12 of the Raiders’ last 18 games.

The Browns have been much better at home this year, where they’re 5-2 compared to 2-4 on the road.  Like the Raiders, Cleveland is 5-8 ATS overall and 1-5 ATS in their last six.  They’ve also failed to cover in four of their last five home games.  The total has gone Under in four of Cleveland’s last five home games against the Raiders.

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Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas is having one of the most tumultuous seasons in recent sports history with major issues on and off the field.  Despite going 1-5 in their last six games, the Raiders are actually just one game back of a wild-card spot thanks to their 5-1 start to the season.  It was another disastrous outing for Las Vegas last week against Kansas City.  The Raiders gave up a defensive touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and turned the ball over five times.  They have now allowed 32 points or more in four of their last five games.  Just as troubling, they’ve failed to score 17 or more points in five of their last six games.

Derek Carr threw for 263 yards with one touchdown and one interception last week.  Hunter Renfrow was the most productive receiver, finishing with 117 yards and a touchdown on 13 catches.  It was Renfrow’s third straight game with at least eight catches and 100 yards, a franchise record.  Cornerback Trayvon Mullen left the game in the third quarter with a toe injury.  It was Mullen’s first game back since originally suffering the injury in Week 4.  He’s been listed as a non-participant at practice this week, so it seems unlikely he will play on Saturday.

Cleveland Browns

The biggest storyline affecting this game is clearly Cleveland’s COVID outbreak.  Currently there are 12 Browns players on the COVID list, including Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Wyatt Teller, Jedrick Willis, David Njoku, Austin Hooper, Takkarist McKinley and John Johnson III.  Head coach Kevin Stefanski also tested positive for COVID.  Vaccinated players and coaches need two negative COVID tests before they are eligible to return, so it’s a waiting game for Cleveland right now.

If Mayfield isn’t cleared to play on Saturday, Case Keenum will get his second start of the season.  In his only previous start this year, Keenum went 21-for-33, passing for 199 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.  Even assuming the majority of the team is healthy and play, this is still a Browns offence that has scored more than 24 points just once over their last seven games.  Running back Kareem Hunt‘s status is also unclear after he left last week’s game with an ankle injury.  It was only his second game back after missing the previous five with a calf injury.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Raiders vs. Browns?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raiders Team Leaders

LV

Touchdowns	Hunter Renfrow 9
Rushing	Josh Jacobs 872
Passing	Derek Carr 4804
Receiving	Hunter Renfrow 103
Sacks	Yannick Ngakoue 10
Interceptions	Johnathan Abram 1

CLE

Touchdowns	Nick Chubb 9
Rushing	Nick Chubb 1259
Passing	Baker Mayfield 3010
Receiving	Jarvis Landry 52
Sacks	Myles Garrett 16
Interceptions	Denzel Ward 3

LV

Touchdowns	Zay Jones 1
Rushing	Josh Jacobs 83
Passing	Derek Carr 310
Receiving	Hunter Renfrow 8
Sacks	Quinton Jefferson 1
Interceptions	Daniel Carlson 0

CLE

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Browns Team Leaders

LV

Touchdowns	Hunter Renfrow 9
Rushing	Josh Jacobs 872
Passing	Derek Carr 4804
Receiving	Hunter Renfrow 103
Sacks	Yannick Ngakoue 10
Interceptions	Johnathan Abram 1

CLE

Touchdowns	Nick Chubb 9
Rushing	Nick Chubb 1259
Passing	Baker Mayfield 3010
Receiving	Jarvis Landry 52
Sacks	Myles Garrett 16
Interceptions	Denzel Ward 3

LV

Touchdowns	Zay Jones 1
Rushing	Josh Jacobs 83
Passing	Derek Carr 310
Receiving	Hunter Renfrow 8
Sacks	Quinton Jefferson 1
Interceptions	Daniel Carlson 0

CLE

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

Weather

temp	43
condition	sunny
wind	Southwest 12mph

Injuries

Las Vegas

Quinton Jefferson (DT)

Ques Sat Foot - 13 / 01 / 22

Kendal Vickers (DL)

Ques Sat Back - 13 / 01 / 22

Johnathan Hankins (DT)

Ques Sat Back - 11 / 01 / 22

Josh Jacobs (RB)

Prob Sat Ribs - 11 / 01 / 22

Andre James (C)

Prob Sat Foot - 11 / 01 / 22

Foster Moreau (TE)

Prob Sat Abdominal - 11 / 01 / 22

Hunter Renfrow (WR)

Prob Sat Hip - 11 / 01 / 22

Darren Waller (TE)

Prob Sat Knee - 11 / 01 / 22

Divine Deablo (LB)

Prob Sat Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22

Trevon Moehrig (S)

Prob Sat Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22

Cleveland

Malcolm Smith (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 08 / 01 / 22

Austin Hooper (TE)

Prob Sun Hand - 05 / 01 / 22

Malik Jackson (DT)

Out indefinitely Knee - 05 / 01 / 22

Elijah Lee (LB)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22

David Njoku (TE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22

Sione Takitaki (LB)

I-R Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22

JC Tretter (C)

Prob Sun Knee - 05 / 01 / 22

Jadeveon Clowney (DE)

Ques Sun Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22

Malik McDowell (DT)

Prob Sun Neck - 05 / 01 / 22

Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE)

Prob Sun Bicep - 05 / 01 / 22

Injuries

Las Vegas

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Quinton Jefferson (DT)	Ques Sat	Foot - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Jefferson is dealing with a foot injury, and it is unclear if he will play in the AFC wild-card game versus the Bengals.
Kendal Vickers (DL)	Ques Sat	Back - 13 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Vickers has a back injury, and it is undecided if he will line up against the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game.
Johnathan Hankins (DT)	Ques Sat	Back - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Hankins has injuries to his back and knee, and it is unknown if he will face the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game.
Josh Jacobs (RB)	Prob Sat	Ribs - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Jacobs is nursing a rib injury, but it is projected that he will play against the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game.
Andre James (C)	Prob Sat	Foot - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
James is battling a foot ailment, but it is likely that he will line up for the AFC wild-card game against the Bengals.
Foster Moreau (TE)	Prob Sat	Abdominal - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Moreau has injuries to his abdomen and ankle, but it is anticipated that he will lace up against the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game.
Hunter Renfrow (WR)	Prob Sat	Hip - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Renfrow is hampered by a hip issue, but it is likely to that he will dress for the AFC wild-card game against the Bengals.
Darren Waller (TE)	Prob Sat	Knee - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Waller is expected to take on the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game despite a knee injury.
Divine Deablo (LB)	Prob Sat	Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Deablo is expected to take the field against the Bengals in the AFC wild-card game despite injuries to his shoulder and wrist.
Trevon Moehrig (S)	Prob Sat	Shoulder - 11 / 01 / 22	1-0	1-0	+ -
Moehrig is tending to a shoulder issue, but it is likely that he will participate in the AFC wild-card game against the Bengals.

Cleveland

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Malcolm Smith (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 08 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Smith will miss an undetermined length of time after winding up on the COVID-19 list.
Austin Hooper (TE)	Prob Sun	Hand - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Hooper has a hand injury, but he is expected to lace up for Sunday's battle with the Bengals.
Malik Jackson (DT)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jackson has a knee injury and has also been assigned to the COVID-19 list. It is unclear how long he will be idle.
Elijah Lee (LB)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Lee is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will be active against the Bengals on Sunday.
David Njoku (TE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Njoku is hindered by a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be active against the Bengals on Sunday.
Sione Takitaki (LB)	I-R	Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Takitaki has a shoulder injury, and he has wound up on the injured reserve list.
JC Tretter (C)	Prob Sun	Knee - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Tretter has a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will play against the Bengals on Sunday.
Jadeveon Clowney (DE)	Ques Sun	Shoulder - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Clowney has injuries to his shoulder and knee, leaving his availability against the Bengals on Sunday up in the air.
Malik McDowell (DT)	Prob Sun	Neck - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
McDowell is projected to take the field against the Bengals on Sunday despite a neck issue.
Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE)	Prob Sun	Bicep - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Odenigbo is likely to partake in Sunday's matchup with the Bengals despite a biceps injury.