The Las Vegas Raiders are set to host the Carolina Panthers of their dwelling opener at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 1:05 p.m. PT. This Week 3 matchup comes on the heels of the Raiders’ shocking 26-23 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, which has injected confidence into the workforce. The Raiders, now 1-1, can be trying to capitalize on their momentum towards a Panthers squad nonetheless looking for their first win of the season.
Heading into the sport, Las Vegas (-5.5) is a consensus 5.5-point favourite over Carolina, with the over/underneath presently scoring 40 factors. The Raiders are a -250 favourite on the, whereas the Panthers are at +200 to drag off the upset. Las Vegas remains to be sitting at +7000 NFL odds to win the Tremendous Bowl.
Raiders’ Momentum
The Raiders’ comeback victory towards the Ravens in Week 2 was a testomony to their resilience and offensive capabilities. Quarterback Gardner Minshew led the cost, orchestrating three consecutive scoring drives within the fourth quarter to overturn a 10-point deficit. Broad receiver Davante Adams performed a pivotal position within the comeback, making essential receptions on the game-tying landing drive. Rookie tight finish Brock Bowers additionally emerged as a dependable goal, catching all 9 of his targets for 98 yards, together with two contested catches.
Defensively, the Raiders had been anchored by edge defender Maxx Crosby, who performed a key position in stifling the Ravens’ makes an attempt to counter within the remaining minutes. Nevertheless, Crosby’s standing for the upcoming recreation towards the Panthers is questionable as a result of an ankle damage, which might impression the Raiders’ defensive technique.
Panthers’ Quarterback Shake-up
The Panthers are coming into this matchup with a big change on the quarterback place. Head coach Dave Canales has determined to bench rookie Bryce Younger, the primary total decide within the 2023 NFL Draft, in favor of veteran Andy Dalton. This transfer comes after Younger’s struggles within the first two video games of the 2024 season, the place he didn’t throw a landing move and a mixed 60 factors outscored the Panthers.
Dalton brings 14 years of NFL expertise, together with 163 begins, to the desk. In his lone begin final season, he threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns, suggesting he might probably revitalize the Panthers’ struggling offense. This quarterback change provides a component of unpredictability to the Panthers’ assault, which the Raiders’ protection might want to put together for.
Key Matchups and Methods
The Raiders are anticipated to focus closely on their floor recreation towards the Panthers. Carolina’s run protection has been a evident weak point, permitting a mean of 199.5 speeding yards per recreation, the second-most within the NFL. Raiders operating again Zamir White is anticipated to see an elevated workload as coach Antonio Pierce and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy intention to take advantage of this vulnerability.
On the opposite aspect of the ball, the Panthers will look to Dalton to jumpstart their offense. Broad receivers Adam Thielen, Diontae Johnson, and rookie Xavier Legette can be key targets within the passing recreation. The Panthers’ skill to determine a extra balanced assault may very well be essential of their quest for his or her first win of the season.
Historic Context and Betting Odds
The Raiders maintain a slight edge within the all-time collection, main 4-3 and profitable the final two conferences. It will mark the Panthers’ first go to to Allegiant Stadium, including an additional layer of intrigue to the matchup.
As the sport approaches, the Raiders enter as 6-point favorites, with the full set at 40 factors. This implies that oddsmakers anticipate a comparatively low-scoring affair, seemingly influenced by the Panthers’ offensive struggles and the Raiders’ latest defensive efficiency.
Harm Report
Each groups are coping with accidents to key gamers. For the Raiders, DE Maxx Crosby (ankle) and DT Christian Wilkins (knee) are listed as questionable. Linebacker Divine Deablo has been dominated out on Sunday after a concussion, and rookie cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) has been listed as “uncertain” for the house opener. Richardson has but to play in his first NFL recreation.
The Panthers have DT Shy Tuttle (foot) listed as uncertain. These accidents might impression the sport’s consequence, notably within the trenches, the place battles are sometimes received and misplaced.
As Sunday approaches, the Raiders are poised to construct on their latest success and enhance to 2-1, whereas the Panthers intention to upset the percentages and safe their first win of the season underneath their new quarterback. With the house crowd behind them and a good matchup towards a struggling run protection, the Raiders have a first-rate alternative to proceed their optimistic momentum on this Week 3 conflict. Nevertheless, the Panthers’ quarterback change introduces a component of uncertainty that might make this recreation extra aggressive than the percentages counsel.
