Carolina Panthers vs. Las Vegas Raiders scouting report and injury report for Week 1
To start off the 2020 season with a bang, the Carolina Panthers are hosting the Las Vegas Raiders for their first game with their new name Sunday at 1 p.m. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup.
When the Panthers have the ball
It will be a spectacle. This is a Panthers offense no one has seen before. As much as the Raiders can prepare for a Joe Brady-run offense by watching LSU last year, the Panthers won’t be running that offense directly. Head coach Matt Rhule said this week that the offense is as much quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s as it is Brady’s. The offense will likely be a combination of LSU, the Saints and a little bit of something new. Watch for running back Christian McCaffrey to line up plenty as a rusher and receiver. And don’t be surprised to see plenty of two-tight end sets utilizing Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz in the passing game. The Panthers have been openly excited about Manhertz’s potential as a receiver and a blocker.
On the Raiders’ side of things, they finished last year allowing 370.3 scrimmage yards per game (18th) and gave up 48 scrimmage touchdowns, fifth-most in the league.
Watch out for Las Vegas outside linebacker Cory Littleton. The Raiders signed him to a three-year deal this offseason, and when he played the Panthers last year while with the Rams, he had a career-high 14 tackles, an interception, forced fumble/fumble recovery and two passes defensed. He’s especially good in coverage, and should match up often with McCaffrey.
The Raiders have two young corners that the Panthers will try to exploit. Trayvon Mullen is entering his second season in the NFL after a college career at Clemson and rookie first-round pick Damon Arnette will likely start at the other corner spot. He has been dealing with thumb and groin injuries.
▪ Edge: Panthers
When the Raiders have the ball
Las Vegas has a group of young receivers, but the real player to watch for will be running back Josh Jacobs. The Panthers’ run defense last year was ... not good. NFL records were set that no team wants to be associated with. They were last in yards per attempt allowed (5.16) and rushing touchdowns allowed (31).
Now the Panthers have defensive tackle Kawann Short back from injury — he suffered a season-ending partially torn rotator cuff in Week 2 last year— first-round pick defensive tackle Derrick Brown on the inside, which should make a big impact on the run game. However, there is still plenty of inexperience for the Raiders to exploit. Four rookies will start on defense — Brown, cornerback Troy Pride Jr. defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and safety Jeremy Chinn. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jacobs break out some big runs.
With Eli Apple (foot/ankle) placed on injured reserve, Pride Jr. is left as the starter at cornerback opposite Donte Jackson. Quarterback Derek Carr will likely look to take advantage of him, especially with some of the speed they’ll have on the field from players like rookie Henry Ruggs III.
▪ Edge: Raiders
When they kick
The Panthers have a young kicker — Joey Slye is entering his second season — and a rookie punter, former Gamecock Joe Charlton. It will be interesting to see how Slye does after an up-and-down first year, and how he and his new holder, Charlton, work together. The punter held in college, but this will be his first professional experience with no preseason games this year.
Daniel Carlson is kicking for the Raiders in his second full season with the team and third in the NFL. He made just 73.1% of his field-goal attempts last year and missed two extra-point attempts, but word out of training camp is that there has been some improvement; that will be tested Sunday. Former NC State punter AJ Cole will be punting and holding for the Raiders in his second year in the league. He finished his rookie season with 33 punts downed inside the 20-yard line (fifth-best in the league).
Prediction
The Panthers offense is a bit of a mystery at this point in terms of the particulars, which gives them a unique edge in Week 1 alone. However, the defense is going to have a lot of growing pains to get through. It will be close, but the unconventional offseason and less-than-ideal secondary will cost the Panthers in the end.
Raiders 30, Panthers 24
Raiders vs. Panthers injury report
▪ Panthers: Dennis Daley (ankle) OUT. Stephen Weatherly (hamstring), Stan Thomas-Oliver (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE.
▪ Raiders: None.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 6:05 PM.
