Keys to Victory: Oakland Raiders vs. Carolina Panthers

Get the WR Core Going Again

Coming off the bye week you would think the Raiders had a good game plan going into Mexico City. They came out with a bang on the first drive but after that, they went flat and had several drives killed by drops.

Crabtree especially was very lackluster, dropping passes, slipping all over the place and failing to make plays or affect the game. That has to change this week.

Maybe the altitude messed with “King Crab” more than others, but hopefully he’s back to the player we know he can be vs. Carolina.

Amari Cooper got going against the Texans but not until the fourth quarter. #Clutch.

Against Carolina, this has to happen sooner. Cooper had one reception in the first half, so the Raiders have to get him the ball earlier. He was limited in practice all week so perhaps Cooper has a nagging injury — although he didn’t seem injured on that TD catch.

Seth Roberts also had his fair share of issues, dropped multiple passes. He is a big play waiting to happen at times, but still struggles with consistency of his hands.

With the backfield doing most of the damage last week in the passing game, this week the perimeter guys will have to step up with guys like Thomas Davis and Shaq Thompson covering running backs and the middle of the field.