Raiders face toughest test yet in New Orleans against Saints

Who would have thought Raiders-Saints would be one of the must-see games of Week 3?But here we are.The Raiders arrive in New Orleans with a 2-0 record and growing evidence that the foundation being built by coach Klint Kubiak can support something considerably more substantial than another rebuilding season.The Saints are coming off a statement win at Baltimore, with quarterback Tyler Shough giving their fans reason to believe something special might be taking shape, too.Put those developments inside a stadium that hardly needs an excuse to get loud, add the emotion of the Saints’ home opener and Sunday suddenly looks like a revealing afternoon for two teams trying to turn September optimism into something lasting.For the Raiders, it also represents a different kind of test.They opened the season in the comfort of Allegiant Stadium, then beat the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, where the crowd offered plenty of reminders of the franchise’s enduring Southern California roots.There will be no such welcome in New Orleans.The noise will challenge their communication.The Saints will test their defensive discipline.

And if Shough gets rolling, the Raiders could find themselves needing more from quarterback Kirk Cousins than simply keeping the offense on schedule.That makes the opening stretch particularly important.The Raiders have scored 27 first-half points through two games, placing them among the league’s top-10 teams.The Saints have managed just six, the NFL’s second-lowest total.There is an opportunity there.

But taking advantage means finishing possessions with touchdowns and making New Orleans chase the game before the crowd can help the Saints take control of it.Kubiak has already shown he will give his offense chances to be aggressive.His decision to attack before halftime against the Chargers, rather than settle for getting to the locker room tied, reflected a coach willing to trust his players.That confidence matters.

So does knowing when to lean on the r...