The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for their last road game of the season against the New Orleans Saints.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the Saints this Sunday, primarily their availability at quarterback, running back and on their offensive line. Despite the injuries affecting their offense, the Saints still have a formidable defense prone to getting after the quarterback.

The Raiders have fought through many of the same injury questions throughout this season, but the team's health seems to be trending in the right direction to finish out strong.

Here are three matchups to follow heading into the Week 17 contest.

Raiders defense vs. Saints quarterback dilemma

This will be a unique week of preparation for the Raiders defense.

The Saints' presumed starter Derek Carr, who is the Raiders' all-time passing yards leader, suffered a hand injury and concussion in Week 14 against the New York Giants. On the verge of missing his third straight game, Saints Interim Head Coach Darren Rizzi said Carr's grip strength is "improving" and is hoping he can suit up Sunday against his former team.

If Carr is not able to go, Rizzi stated 2024 fourth-round pick Spencer Rattler would, as of now, start again. Rattler has struggled in his starts this season, going 0-4 when Carr is out. On Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers, he committed two turnovers and went 15-of-30 for 155 passing yards.

Nevertheless, the unpredictably of who'll be under center still provides a challenge for the Silver and Black.

"The answer is never going to change. We always get ready for the quarterbacks. ... Getting ready for those guys, [they] all have different toolsets," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Thursday. "For me as the coordinator, I've got to look at all of them. The coaching staff, we've got to just be prepared because somebody could get hurt in the game. So, you've got to be ready for that. And then for us, leading into this game, obviously there's a lot of gray we're dealing with. But their scheme's their scheme. We have to have an idea if we have to adjust based on who they put out there.

"We'll have more information with the injury reports and things of that nature," he added. "And then from there, in terms of how we allocate the time and practice if there is a change in scheme, I got to take an educated guess as the defensive coordinator in terms of what we're going to practice and be ready to adjust. I think they all have three specific toolsets that provide challenges for us as a defense. But more importantly, it comes back to how they play collectively."

Regardless of who the Saints roll out at quarterback, the Raiders defense has been on a run over the last three games. In that span, they've totaled six turnovers and eight sacks while allowing an average of 19 points per game.

Jack Jones vs. Chris Olave

Regardless of who will be stepping in to play quarterback this Sunday, their main target will more than likely be Chris Olave.

The 2022 first-rounder has solidified himself as WR1 in New Orleans, leading the team in receiving yards and receptions in his first two seasons in the league. Yet things haven't gone his way from a health standpoint in 2024 as he's missed the last six games with a concussion suffered in Week 9.

Olave was a full participant in Wednesday's practice estimate and on Thursday as well, according to the team's injury report. With all signs pointing to his return, the secondary must be prepared.

"[Y]ou see a guy who's explosive, who can make plays, make tough catches," Graham said. "So, we'll see if he's ready to go and we'll have to be prepared for him."

Jack Jones is likely to shadow Olave in this matchup. Jones currently leads the team in pass deflections (12) and is in a three-way tie for most interceptions with two. However, he's also allowed four touchdowns in coverage in his last five games.

"Jack, I mean, he's a human highlight," Antonio Pierce said. "I mean, it's either good or bad with him, right? That's kind of how the season's been with him, and he understands that. That's something we constantly talk about – his eye discipline, his technique, his fundamentals, have his eyes in the right place, doing what he's asked to do. And I always remind him, even since I've been with him since he was 13, all his interceptions and big plays is when he just does his job and he doesn't force it. Every time he forces it, that's where it goes opposite for him."

When Jones is playing at his best, he's certainly proved to be the human highlight Pierce referenced, with three interceptions returned for touchdowns in the cornerback's two seasons with the Raiders.

DJ Glaze vs. Cam Jordan

Cam Jordan has the model of consistency and reliability for the Saints defense – even in his 14th NFL season.

The eight-time Pro Bowler has missed just two games in his NFL career and continues to produce for his unit. The attention he still demands at this stage has helped elevate other pass rushers around him, including Bryan Bresee, Carl Granderson and Chase Young, who've combined for 18.5 sacks this year. Jordan himself has racked up three sacks and seven quarterback hits.

"He's a great player, and he doesn't look like he's lost much even later in his career," Interim Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner said of Jordan. "Plays with power and speed and always finds a way to be around the ball. And of course, when you've got someone like that that we have to put attention on like you're saying, it opens up the rest of the defense to be able to play fast and confident because they know they're going to get some pretty good looks."

Rookie DJ Glaze be challenged with Jordan being the next in a slew of accomplished pass rushers he's faced this season. Glaze's 543 pass blocking snaps are the second-most of any rookie lineman, per NextGen Stats, and he has only allowed one sack in his last three games.

"A guy like Cam Jordan, he's a vet and he's done this for many years," Glaze said. "He's a savvy guy. ... He just knows where to be and when to be there. For me, it's just going out, doing what I've been doing. Not trying to overanalyze it but just know it's going to be a great challenge because he has a lot of knowledge. He knows what he's looking at, he knows how to diagnose fast and well. It's going to be a great challenge but I also feel like it's fun. Going against players I grew up watching, it's going to be fun."