The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off of a huge 26-23 win vs the Baltimore Ravens despite being an eight-point underdog. A huge victory especially after losing Week 1 to division rival Los Angeles Chargers. Head coach Antonio Pierce has created a culture that actually has a vision for this team. A tough and gritty team that’s taking an underdog approach this season. The Raiders finally have a real Raider for a head coach, someone who brings back memories of those old blue collar Raiders from the Madden era back in the day.
Consistency is the next milestone for this team, as they struggle to get the offense rolling. The Raiders defense seems to be what keeps the scores close, and is the reason most of the games on the Raiders schedule are winnable. Vegas continues to try and find their rhythm, and Week 3 provides the perfect opportunity as they head back home for their home opener against the Carolina Panthers.
Las Vegas Raiders Host The Carolina Panthers In Week 3 Matchup
The Las Vegas Raiders will be up against a slightly different Carolina Panthers team, as the Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced Monday the benching of second year quarterback Bryce Young. This means that veteran quarterback Andy Dalton will start for the Panther. Which is a big scary if you’re a Raiders fan only because Andy Dalton has a 3-0 record as a starter against the Raiders. The last time Dalton went up against the Raiders he was with the Saints and went 22-30 with 229 yards passing, and two touchdowns.
However, the Raiders lead the all time regular season series 4-3. With a 2-1 record at home against the Panthers. I know we’re used to seeing team just beat down on the Carolina Panthers, but this isn’t going to be an easy your typical “walk in the park” kind of game. To be honest, Carolina will most likely be a much better team than we’re used to seeing with a veteran quarterback at the helm, so this opponent shouldn’t be taken lightly this week. The Raiders need to focus on the pass rush and get something rolling on offense, maybe get something going on the ground, and introduce the tier-two targets in the air.
Still Some Things To Sharpen Up, But Consistency is Key
It’s no secret this Vegas Raiders team lacks consistency, but what else is lacking in this team dynamic? Well the big elephant in the room is the quarterback position needs an upgrade, and no disrespect to Gardner Minshew II, but he’s just not at a starting quarterback caliber quarterback yet, and it shows. Maybe it’s the horrific O-line, which also needs to be addressed as well. This is a decent Las Vegas Raiders team, and they’re capable of beating any team on any given Sunday.
However, If the Las Vegas Raiders fix these key things right now, which is getting a slightly better quarterback, and a better O-line. I think that combined with the ability to be consistent will elevate this team to the next level and become a real threat to not only the division but to the entire league.
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