The Carolina Panthers (0-2, 0-2 ATS, 1-1 O/U) will face off against the Las Vegas Raiders (1-1, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U) in an intriguing inter-conference matchup this Sunday afternoon. After suffering a defeat to the Chargers, the Panthers find themselves struggling at 0-2. The Raiders, on the other hand, enter this game with a record of 1-1 following a surprising road victory over the Ravens. The last time these two teams clashed was in 2020, where the Raiders came out on top.
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Andy Dalton Takes the Helm for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers are currently in a phase of rebuilding, which reflects in their early-season struggles. The team faced a harsh 47-10 defeat against the Saints in their opener, followed by a disappointing 26-3 loss at home to the Chargers, where they were only four-point underdogs.
The Panthers’ young quarterback, Bryce Young, has faced challenges in his first two games. The 23-year-old, who was the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, has accumulated 245 passing yards but has struggled significantly with a 0:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In a shift for the team, Andy Dalton will step in as the starting quarterback. Dalton, a seasoned player, previously tallied 361 passing yards with a 2:0 TD to INT ratio in limited action with Carolina last season.
In the backfield, Miles Sanders and Chubba Hubbard are sharing the rushing responsibilities. While Sanders has only managed 42 rushing yards, Hubbard emerged as a bright spot last week with 78 rushing yards, averaging five yards per carry. The receiving corps has shown inconsistency, with Adam Thielen contributing a mere 20 yards last game and Diontae Johnson totaling 34 yards. Overall, the Panthers have struggled offensively, with total yardage of 193 and 159 in their first two games.
On defense, Carolina has faced challenges as well, surrendering 379 yards in their opener and 349 yards against the Chargers. Despite these struggles, players like Shaq Thompson, Jadeveon Clowney, and Mike Jackson stand out. The pass defense ranks ninth, while the rush defense sits at a concerning 31st in the league. Carolina’s offensive performance has been dismal, averaging only 6.5 points per game, which places them last in the NFL.
Las Vegas Shocks Baltimore
The Las Vegas Raiders return home after a challenging start to the season with two road games. After a lackluster opening game that ended in a 22-10 defeat to the Chargers, the Raiders managed to pull off a surprising 26-23 victory against the Ravens, despite being heavy underdogs by 8.5 points. Though not considered serious contenders, the Raiders have shown they can compete with a robust defense.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew has been effective in his starts, throwing for 257 and 278 yards in the first two games. The 28-year-old has prior starting experience with the Jaguars and Colts, accumulating 533 passing yards this season with a 2:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Running back Zamir White has struggled to find his rhythm, totaling just 68 rushing yards at an average of 3.1 yards per carry. The Raiders have a diverse receiving corps, with Jakobi Myers contributing 90 receiving yards and Davante Adams shining with 110 receiving yards last week, bringing his season total to 169 yards. However, the offense has been limited, recording only 296 total yards against the Chargers and 260 against the Ravens.
Defensively, the Raiders have been inconsistent. They allowed 316 yards in their opener and 383 against a strong Ravens offense. The pass defense has been somewhat effective, ranking 15th, while the rush defense has struggled, sitting at 29th. Maxx Crosby has been a standout player with 11 tackles but is currently questionable due to limited practice participation. The team has yet to secure an interception this season.
Las Vegas has averaged 18 points per game, placing them 21st in the league, while allowing an average of 22.5 points, which ranks them 20th.
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Best Bets for Carolina Panthers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Carolina Panthers are likely to face tough odds for the remainder of the season. However, they could be more competitive in this matchup. There remains skepticism surrounding the Raiders, who scored only 10 points in their season opener and managed 26 points last week despite recording only 260 total yards.
With Andy Dalton stepping in for the sidelined Bryce Young, there may be an uptick in Carolina’s offensive performance. Dalton brings valuable experience as a starting quarterback. The Panthers also have promising running backs, particularly Chubba Hubbard, who could exploit the Raiders’ struggling rush defense, currently ranked 29th in the NFL. Minshew will face a challenge against a Panthers pass defense that has shown improvement, ranking ninth.
