As they say, each play of each game is about matchups. Let’s focus on five which could play the biggest factor in the Raiders and Panthers season opener on Sunday.
1. LB Cory Littleton vs RB Christian McCaffrey
Littleton was signed by the Raiders for games just like this. To spy on a back like McCaffrey who is as lethal as a receiver as he is as a runner. It will take a lot more than Littleton to stop McCaffrey from having his way, but it starts with Littleton.
The last time Littleton faced McCaffrey and the Panthers, he had a career day. And the Rams pulled out a 30-27 win.
2. SS Johnathan Abram vs QB Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is known as a dink-and-dunk quarterback. Even when he’s not throwing dump passes, his passes to wide receivers don’t go far. It will be up to Abram to be the enforcer underneath to make the Panthers receivers fear going over the middle.
Abram was outstanding in his debut in the season opener in 2019, but that was also his last game as he would injure his shoulder. Everyone is eager to see what this defense can look like with him on patrol. He is a box safety who can go sideline to sideline. But as eager as he is to hit someone, he must also be extra careful not to arrive too early and get penalized.
If Abram is on his game in this one, Bridgewater will be forced to look elsewhere for completions or pay for it.
3. Jon Gruden vs Matt Rhule
It isn’t often a coach is forced to prepare for an opposing coach who doesn’t have a single piece of NFL game tape. But that’s what Gruden must do. Rhule takes over as Panthers head coach straight from the college ranks. He was the head coach at Baylor the past three years and Temple for four years prior to that. His coordinators also come from the college ranks.
With no preseason games, Gruden hasn’t even gotten a preview of how the Panthers might line up. He must go off of college tape only which could be misleading. Rhule will no doubt have some tricks up his sleeve Gruden and company are no expecting. Or Gruden could just outcoach the NFL newcomer.
4. RB Josh Jacobs vs LB Tahir Whitehead
A lot of Raiders fans will figure this one favors the Raiders considerably. And they may be right, but I wouldn’t be so sure. Whitehead had his issues with the Raiders, but primarily those were in coverage. He was better against the run.
Jacobs is still the choice in head-to-head battles, but Whitehead has in his favor that he is quite familiar with the Raiders offense and blocking schemes having faced them every day in practice the past two years.
5. WR Henry Ruggs III vs CB Troy Pride Jr.
Making things a bit easier for Ruggs making his NFL debut as a starter is much of the time he will line up across another rookie making his debut as a starter. Third-year former second-round pick Donte Jackson will start on the other side.
Pride is a fourth-round rookie by the Panthers out of Notre Dame. He stepped up as the starter after the team lost Eli Apple to injury. If the Raiders offense is to score as they should against this young Panthers defense, Ruggs stretching the field could be the key.
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