The Las Vegas Raiders were at their peak a week ago when they beat the Baltimore Ravens. On Sunday night, they were at their lowest point in their careers. The Raiders’ 36-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers will sting for a long time.
The silver-blacks were clear favorites, but did not perform well in all areas against their opponent from week 3. What are some lessons learned from the loss?
The Raiders’ problems continue. White managed just 35 yards on 10 carries and Mattison managed three 7-yard runs. In total, the team ran 55 yards. The Panthers managed 131 yards.
Establishing a running game was at the forefront of Pierce’s vision for this team. But it was also the team’s biggest failure of the season. So far, the Raiders are at the bottom of the league in rushing yards per game with just 49 yards. They also rank 32nd in yards per attempt with 2.51 yards. This season, they have amassed 153 rushing yards.
The Raiders have only scored two rushing touchdowns this year. Their offense has been one-dimensional so far, much to the chagrin of their head coach.
It seemed like the most unlikely thing the Panthers could have done. They, quite frankly, stomped the Raiders’ defense into the ground. Quarterback Andy Dalton threw 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He made the Panthers’ offense look completely different than that of Bryce Young’s Panthers.
The running game was, as mentioned, dominant. Chuba Hubbard scored a touchdown and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caught eight balls for 122 yards and scored a touchdown. Adam Thielen was dominant before leaving after the first half due to injury.
All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby was quiet all game, especially as his ankle injury became more apparent. Taken out of the equation. When Miles Sanders slammed one in at the goal line, he slid past Crosby unharmed.
Crosby had only three tackles, one solo, and one pass defensed.
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The worst interception was one that sent the ball straight to Carolina’s Michael Jackson. Minshew also suffered two bad sacks.
Minshew has been a pendulum this season, like most gunslinger quarterbacks. He takes risks, tries to extend plays, and sometimes he gets uncontrolled to the detriment of his own team. Today he wasn’t particularly good. Just like the rest of the team.
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