The Las Vegas Raiders will play in front of home fans for the first time in 2024 when they host the Carolina Panthers at Allegiant Stadium in Week 3. Both teams need to win this game; the Raiders need to show that their victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 was real, while the Panthers need to win their first game of the year.
Before the game, the Panthers made an unexpected decision by benching rookie quarterback Bryce Young in favor of veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. Given that Dalton is a lot more immobile quarterback and the Las Vegas Raiders defense crushed Lamar Jackson during the team’s victory in Week 2 on the road, this is unquestionably a more advantageous matchup for them.
But these three guys need to step up in Week 3 if the Raiders are to keep winning.
Raiders players who need to break out in Week 3 vs. the Panthers
Zamir White
The Raiders’ struggles running the ball this season are well known; in Week 2, they allowed the Baltimore Ravens to average fewer than two yards per rush. Josh Jacobs’ departure to Green Bay made this position group the focus of attention heading into the season, but Zamir White impressed during Jacobs’ injury-plagued absence the previous year, and many anticipated that he would take Jacobs’ place and return as the prominent player in 2024.
Although White hasn’t done much thus far, the Raiders offensive line has occasionally had a very difficult time creating openings for him. There’s no better chance for White to get back on track than against the awful Panthers defense, and if he can unleash the sort of explosiveness he did the previous year, this game may go out of control quickly.
Adam Butler
This season, the Raiders’ rush defense has been surprisingly vulnerable, especially considering the addition of Christian Wilkins at the defensive tackle position. Adam Butler, the team’s interior player, has performed admirably in his second season, but he is also playing a lot more, thus the Raiders need to improve their run defense.
Butler, a sixth-year defensive lineman for the Raiders, has participated in 106 of the team’s 122 snaps this season, which is a significant workload. The loss of Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce has lightened his workload, but in Week 3, he must assist the Raiders in stopping the Panthers’ two-headed running back tandem of Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard.
Tre Tucker
On Sunday, Brock Bowers and Davante Adams combined for 18 receptions, over 200 yards, and a score, displaying their impressive dynamic tandem. But aside from those two players, the remainder of the squad combined for just 12 catches for Las Vegas, which included four from Jakobi Meyers, three from Zamir White, and two each from Tre Tucker and Ameer Abdullah.
Tucker appeared to be the Raiders’ breakthrough prospect this summer, but in the regular season, he hasn’t been able to find his footing in the team’s passing offense. They should aim to take a huge shot to get him going in this one because he has the sort of big-play talent that may help blow the lid off the Panthers’ defense in Week 3.
READ MORE ON:https://sportip.co.uk/