LAS VEGAS — The Carolina Panthers hit the road in Week 3 for a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carolina is trying to turn things around after an 0-2 start that has seen them outscored by a combined 60 points over two weeks. The game will be broadcast live on WFMY News 2 at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Here are three things to watch for ahead of Panthers-Raiders.
Return of the Red Rifle
The big news in Charlotte this week has been the benching of quarterback Bryce Young. Head coach Dave Canales announced the decision Monday afternoon following Carolina's 26-3 loss to the Chargers in Week 2.
Young is 2-16 as a starter, including an 0-2 mark in 2024. Through two games, he has completed just 55.4% of his passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
Next up for Carolina under center is veteran Andy Dalton, who spent the majority of his career with the Bengals before bouncing around with a few NFC teams and eventually landing on the Panthers in 2023.
Dalton has just one start in his time with Carolina, but he was more than serviceable when his number was called. In a 31-21 loss to Seattle last year, Dalton threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he didn't turn the ball over.
At 36 years old, Dalton won't necessarily have the mobility Young had in the pocket. But he shouldn't need to dance around too much, as Carolina's offensive line has actually been pretty solid in pass protection.
Dalton was a second-round pick by Cincinnati in the 2011 NFL Draft, the same draft where the Panthers took Cam Newton No. 1 overall. He is 83-78-2 in his career as a starter.
Pound the rock
Despite ranking last in the league in total offense (176.0 yards per game), Carolina has run the ball pretty well this season.
Last week against Los Angeles, Chuba Hubbard totaled 64 yards on just 10 carries. That said, Carolina had to go away from the run throughout the game as its deficit continued to grow.
Hubbard is averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season and looks like Carolina's go-to running back so far this season. Miles Sanders has chipped in 42 yards on 12 carries, and rookie Jonathan Brooks should be back in a few weeks after he fully recovers from the torn ACL he suffered at Texas in 2023.
If Carolina wants to take the pressure off Dalton and have more success on offense, it will need to be more balanced. That means handing the ball off to Hubbard and Sanders consistently, something Canales has said he has wanted to start doing.
Don't be surprised if Carolina runs early and often against the Raiders.
Defensive downturn
Carolina ranked fourth in the NFL in yards per game allowed last season under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, but things have not gone nearly as well for the Panthers on that side of the ball in 2024.
Through two games, the Panthers rank 31st of the league's 32 teams in rush defense, giving up an average of 199.5 yards per game. In the loss against the Chargers, Los Angeles running back J.K Dobbins racked up 131 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Part of the reason for Carolina's defensive struggles so far is the absence of Derek Brown. Brown, who last year became the first defensive lineman in NFL history to total 100 tackles in a season, suffered a knee injury against the Saints in Week 1 and is now out for the rest of the season.
One Carolina player who has been a disappointment so far is cornerback Jaycee Horn. A former top-10 pick, Horn has given up a touchdown in each game so far. The first one against the Saints in Week 1 was more of a blown assignment, but the one in Week 2 against the Chargers saw him bested by struggling Chargers receiver Quentin Johnson.
Through two games in 2024, Oakland ranks 23rd in the league in total offense (278.0 yards per game). Fortunately for Carolina, Oakland ranks dead last in rushing yards per game (49.0).
PANTHERS-RAIDERS
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
When: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV: WFMY News 2 or local CBS station
Last meeting: 34-30 L on Sept. 13, 2020
All-time series: Carolina trails in the all-time series, 3-4