Vegas secured a somewhat surprising win on the road last week. Here is how they can win their home opener.
At some point in the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Raiders were not going to outlast the Ravens. The Ravens established the run with Derek Henry finishing the day with 84 rushing yards on 18 carries. Vegas starting runner Zamir White struggled again. He finished with only 24 yards on 9 carries.
The Silver and Black were efficient in the passing game. Gardner Mishnew completed 30-of-38 passes for 276 passing yards and one touchdown. Davante Adams finished with nine receptions for 110 receivng yards. Rookie toght end Brock Bowers finished with 98 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Mishnew completed passes to four other Raiders players too. It was about as solid of a game as one could expect in the air. Of course, minus the five sacks and one interception Mishnew registered in Baltimore.
Defensively, the Raiders held Lamar Jackson to 247 passing yards and 45 rushing yards. He found the end zone only once. Maxx Crosby found a way to register two sacks, despite the defensive group being banged up. The Raiders won with their defense on the field. This close game reminded me of the Seth Roberts games versus the Ravens last decade. Vegas found a way to win.
Now, they open the 2024 season against a Carolina Panthers team that made headlines for their decision to bench 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Carolina got blown out by both the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints. They’ve scored 13 points combined over the first two games. The Panthers expect veteran QB Andy Dalton to help their fortunes.
Dalton is not known for his big arm. He can manage an offense and get the ball out. Receivers Adam Thielen and Diontae Johnson have had success in the league. Jonathan Mingo and Xavier Legett bring some youth out of the slot. Carolina also has versatility out of the backfield with Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.
The Raiders need to play discipline and tackle well. They can not afford to give up any big plays to an offense that is desperate to find some rhythm. It could be a long day if Johnson converts a big play. Thielen or Sanders could also extend a short pass.
Otherwise, the Panthers invested in their interior line this offseason. They added guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis in the offseason. Neither Sanders or Hubbard have been effective runners. Young was also sacked six times over the first two games. Young is more mobile than Dalton at this point. The Raiders must get home to the QB.
Of course, Christian Wilkins, Tyree Wilson and Crosby are all listed as questionable for this game. Malcolm Koonce is done for the year. The Raiders need to create pressure to force Dalton into bad throws, no matter who plays d-line. He is a rythm passer.
Defensively, the Panthers are not the same unit as years prior. Defensive lineman Derrick Brown is on IR. They let Brian Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos walk. Carolina is left with veterans like Jadaveon Clowney and A’Shawn Robinson. Second-year edge DJ Johnson does bring some speed, which the Raiders tackles could struggle against.
In the secondary, the Raiders should have favorable matchups. Outside of Jaycee Horn at corner, Carolina fields a bunch of veterans. Safeties Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller are proven starters. However, they lack the size and ball skills against the Raiders’ TEs. Troy Hill and Mike Jackson are the other corners. Jakobi Meyes and Tre Tucker bring the explosiveness to win those matchups. Adams size and physicality should also dominate this corner group. Mishnew needs to keep getting the ball out to his playmakers, efficiently.
Otherwise, the Raiders have yet to really establish their running game. All their key players should be good to go today. At home, Zamir White needs a big game. Ideally, White needs to help the team sit on a lead and control the clock.
Vegas should absolutely win this game if they can run the ball, throw the ball efficiently, play discipline defense, and pressure the quarterback. A 2-1 start would feed the Antonio Pierce bandwagon. It should give them some momentum headed into a physical matchup against the Cleveland Browns next week.
The Raiders cannot afford to overlook the Carolina Panthers. They cannot underestimate this winless team. You don’t want to play down to their level. You do want to continue to establishing your identity. Vegas needs to set the tone and showcase their identity as a playoff contender.
