2020 Preview Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers
While the 2020 football season is still months away, it's never too early to start previewing the season. In this new series, I'll preview every game in the Raiders' regular-season and take a look into each opponent. First up: Week 1 at the Carolina Panthers.
Panthers on a Rebuild
The Panthers are coming into the 2020 season starting a major rebuild. This past off-season, the Panthers released a handful of significant players into free agency such as Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, Gerald McCoy, Mario Addison, Vernon Butler, and Dontari Poe James Bradberry, among others.
On top of that, the 2020 season opener will be the first NFL game for former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will be the new leader of the offense, while Rhule's draft picks in the secondary, should help with the defensive rebuilding as the season progresses. But for Week 1? Both sides of the ball are learning a new system, a new leader, while Rhule will have to manage the field's activities.
New Identity for the Raiders
In Week 1 of the 2020 season, the Raiders will play with their new identity as the Las Vegas Raiders. While away from the desert, Coach Jon Gruden and company will want to start on a positive note, as they ended their Oakland identify with a 16-15 loss against the Denver Broncos. On the field, quarterback Derek Carr will have his first chance to connect with wide receiver and first-round pick Henry Ruggs III, who averaged 18.7 yards per reception last year in Alabama. After a 7-9 record in 2019, the goal for week one will be to start the season off on a positive note, get Ruggs and Carr comfortable with each other on the field and reintroduce their team as the Las Vegas Raiders. Considering how the Panthers are just getting started on their rebuild, there should be high optimism for a win. The long flight across time zones does add a higher degree of difficulty.
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