The Panthers face another high-scoring opponent after facing one last week, when they subdued Drew Brees and the Saints at home, 23-20. Up ahead for the defending NFC champions is a matchup with Oakland, which brings a significant challenge to Carolina’s stop unit.
It sucks for the Panthers to know that one of their defense’s top players in Luke Kuechly is unlikely to play this coming Sunday. Kuechly was hit in the head in the New Orleans game and is currently under concussion protocol. Kuechly’s potential absence means added pressure for Cam Newton and the Panthers’ offense. Good thing the Raiders aren’t that that much of a defensive team, one that Newton and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin are capable of setting aflame. The Raiders are allowing 398.0 total yards per game and ranks second worst against the pass.
Against the Saints, Newton passed for 192 yards and a touchdown with no picks on 14 of 33 completions. Benjamin, meanwhile, caught three passes for 56 receiving yards.
The under is 3-0 in the last three games of Carolina.
Can you say that the Raiders’ offense is en fuego? Playing in Mexico on Monday, the Raiders leaned on their high-flying passing attack to beat Houston in Mexico, 27-20, their fourth straight victory and seventh in the last eight.
Derek Carr drove most of the Raiders’ offense, as he went 21 of 31 for 295 yards and three touchdowns with a lone interception. Also credit the Raiders’ tremendous offensive line that made it as hard for Houston’s pass rush to get into as a Mexican getting a US Visa nowadays. But seriously speaking, Carr had a lot of time and space to operate in the pocket as he wasn’t sacked even once.
To demonstrate how great Oakland’s O-line has been this season, consider that it has allowed just 11 sacks this season—the fewest in the NFL. The unit will be in for a litmus test, though, against Carolina, which is third in the league in sacks.
Then again, the Raiders can expand the role of their backfield against Carolina. Without Kuechly, the Panthers are missing their top tackler and that could mean wider lanes for the likes of Latavius Murray. Murray paces the Raiders in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
