Cardinals

Raiders

Week 2 of the NFL 2022 season sees the Cardinals make their way to Sin City for their first meeting with the Raiders since 2018. The home team will look to a new head coach and loyal understudy of Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels, for stability after a 2021 season hampered by off-field controversy.

After some speculation, Kyler Murray returns to Arizona for his fourth year as QB1 with a new contract. He’ll add some pre-season experience on the sideline, calling plays for his teammates under the watchful eye of Kliff Kingsbury. The NFC West runners-up will consider themselves unlucky to have drawn divisional rivals and subsequent Super Bowl winners, the Los Angeles Rams, in the wildcard round of 2021. Especially after an 11-6 season in one of the most hotly contested divisions in the league.

The Las Vegas Raiders have kept faith in long-time QB Derek Carr for another season, offering an extension worth $121m that will keep the 2014 second-rounder in Las Vegas until 2025. The Raiders face similar challenges to that of their opponents in the strength of their divisional rivals, and will be keen to replicate the success of their 2018 victory against the Cardinals in front of their home fans.

Those wanting to bet on NFL games should look to the strength in wideouts on both sides. The Cardinals will have to look beyond the suspended DeAndre Hopkins for the first weeks of the season, while the Raiders welcome Davante Adams to an already elite offense, with Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller likely to provide yards alongside him as the season progresses.

NFL betting odds on Cardinals vs Raiders are likely to favor an offensive masterclass, with the Raiders a possible favorite to cover the spread.