Why Raiders Must Adjust Fast for Week 3 East Coast Showdown

The Las Vegas Raiders dropped a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. They will follow that up with another challenging matchup when they head east.

Looking Ahead

The Raiders faced a challenging defense on Monday night. Las Vegas will face what appears to be a solid defense. Smith also praised the Commanders' versatility on defense. Raiders quartrback Geno Smith explained that Washington has several players worth noting.

“Man, tough defense. Really tough up front. They got some really good guys up front, a lot of first rounders in that in that front seven, man. And a Hall of Famer in Bobby Wagner, a guy who I've faced a number of years in practice and in games,” Smith said.

"So, I know what he's going to bring. I think Frankie [Luvu] is a tremendous player. He’s great in the blitz, he's a leader, he does all the right things. Marshon Lattimore, we know what he's capable of, an All-Pro corner, a man corner, lockdown corner.

“And then I really like Mike [Sainristil], I don't want to say his name wrong, but Mike does a lot of great things, has great ball skills, is an active player, plays nickel, plays on the outside, does a lot of great things. Really active veteran safeties. Another tough defense, another tough opponent. What more could we ask for? We’re looking forward to it.”

Smith noted how much he enjoys the mental aspect of preparing for games. Smith feels it is a critical part of the game. Luckily, he is excited to be on a short week. Smith believes a short week has its advantages.

“I enjoy it. I don't think you can ever have too much information or too much knowledge. So, I enjoy studying the film. I love the game. I love watching football. But more importantly, it's a way to get an edge, and so I try to gain that edge by studying film and trying to figure out my opponent. So, yeah, film study is critical," Smith said.

"I think the shorter week actually helps you. The faster we can get to the game, the faster we get that bad taste out of our mouth. So, having a short week, we know there's a quick turnaround. The emphasis is on getting your body right and preparing, learning the new opponent, getting yourself together and getting ready to go out there to the East Coast and get it done."

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