The Las Vegas Raiders, to the surprise of many, escaped two road games to start the 2024 season with a 1-1 record. The most surprising part was that the win came against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. And now, they get their first game at Allegiant Stadium against Andy Dalton and the reeling Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers have been, by far, the worst team in football through the first two weeks of the NFL season. They are 0-2 with a point differential of minus 60. The Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants are the next worst in this category, at minus-37 and minus-25, respectively. No other team is worse than minus-18.
Part of the issue for the Panthers has been bad quarterback play, spearheaded by 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Young struggled mightily in his rookie season, but the Panthers had room for optimism heading into Year 2. After two pitiful weeks — 31-for-56 with no touchdowns and three interceptions — they are turning to the veteran backup in Dalton.
Dalton is by no means a solution to the Panthers’ problems. However, the 14-year veteran has seen enough to keep the team from further embarrassing losses like the ones suffered in Weeks 1 and 2. In seasons with at least 13 games played, Dalton has finished with fewer the six wins only once.
He will still have to face the difficult task of avoiding Maxx Crosby, who is currently 3.0 sacks away from becoming third on the Raiders all-time sacks list. Even with a difficult first week against Joe Alt from the L.A. Chargers, Crosby is still tied for fifth in the NFL with 3.0 sacks on the year.
Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew and the offense can take a page out of the Chargers and New Orleans Saints’ book if they want to move the ball freely on the Panthers’ defense. Davante Adams and Brock Bowers have been exceptional through the first two weeks, and Minshew is undoubtedly going to continue leaning on them.
Minshew is tied for second among all quarterbacks in passing yards through two weeks. He has 533, along with Matthew Stafford, and is only behind Brock Purdy by 17 yards.
The Raiders have a real opportunity to go to 2-1 at the start of a favorable stretch of schedule against the Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and L.A. Rams.
Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) vs. Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Sunday, September 22, 2024, 1:05 p.m. PST
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: CBS
