Game Preview: Raiders play host to Ravens for Monday Night Football

The Las Vegas Raiders are taking the national stage to open up the season on Monday Night Football as they clash against the Baltimore Ravens at Allegiant Stadium. The contest is the first season opener held in the Raiders' new home and is the third time in four years the team has opened the season on Monday night. The Silver and Black hold a 41-29-1 all-time record in Monday Night Football matchups. It will also mark the first time fans will fill the 60,000-plus capacity stadium for a regular season game after the COVID-19 pandemic left stands across the league empty in 2020. Head Coach Jon Gruden embarks on his fourth season at the helm of the team, while General Manager Mike Mayock enters his third season as the Silver and Black kick off their second campaign in Las Vegas at 5:15 p.m. PT on Monday, September 13, 2021.Broadcast InformationWhat to Watch For Derek Carr will lead the offense as he heads into his eighth year as a Raider, fresh off a season full of career-highs. In 2020, No. 4 became the franchise's all-time leader in touchdown passes (170), while also recording his third consecutive 4,000-yard season. Carr topped it off by earning a career-high 101.4 passer rating. His top target was tight end Darren Waller, who recorded 1,196 receiving yards -- 10th most in the NFL -- and nine touchdowns. The duo will undoubtedly look to extend their success in the 2021 campaign. Monday night will be the first time we get to see many of the free agent pieces acquired by the Raiders in game action. Las Vegas will also showcase a revamped defense, headed by defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and anchored by veterans such as DE Yannick Ngakoue -- who spent last season with the Ravens -- DT Gerald McCoy and CB Casey Hayward Jr. The Silver and Black's defensive unit will have their work cut out for them as they look to contain a mobile quarterback in Lamar Jackson.Series History The Baltimore Ravens hold an all-time 8-3 series lead over the Raiders, and have won the last two contests. The two teams last met in Baltimore on November 25, 2018, where the Ravens won 34-17.Numbers to Know QB Derek Carr needs 30 touchdown passes to become the sixth player in NFL history with 200 career touchdown passes in their first eight seasons. Carr needs to complete 448 passes to surpass Matt Ryan for most completions in NFL history through a player's first eight seasons. Carr could record a career high with seven 300-yard passing games. DE Maxx Crosby needs to record three sacks to become the eighth player in franchise history with at least 20 sacks in his first three seasons. RB Josh Jacobs needs 665 rushing yards to become the franchise leader in rushing yards through a player's first three seasons. Jacobs needs 16 rushing touchdowns to tie the franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season. TE Darren Waller needs 879 receiving yards to rank second all-time for most career receiving yards by a tight end in franchise history. With 100 receptions, Waller would become the first tight end to accomplish the mark in consecutive seasons.Notable Connections Raiders TE Darren Waller was the Ravens' sixth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with Baltimore before signing to the Raiders' active roster in 2018. Raiders WR Willie Snead spent three seasons with Baltimore from 2018-20, appearing in 45 games with 29 starts. Raiders DE Yannick Ngakoue appeared in nine games for the Ravens over the course of the 2020 season. Raiders offensive line coach Tom Cable and Ravens inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan served on the Raiders coaching staff from 2007-08. Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale started his NFL career as a linebackers coach for the Raiders from 2004-08. Ravens DT Justin Ellis was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent five seasons with the team before joining the Ravens in 2019. Ravens DE Chris Smith appeared in eight games in the 2020 season for the Raiders. Ravens P Johnny Townsend was drafted by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and played one season.Beginning on September 13, 2021, all Raiders home game attendees ages 12 and over must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter. The Raiders and Allegiant Stadium have partnered with CLEAR Health Pass to provide easy proof of vaccination. Complete your Health Pass ahead of the game for faster entry. Click here for more information.