HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The boos began in the first quarter Sunday, when back-to-back inside runs by Zamir White didn't sit well with Raiders fans who wanted to see more imaginative play-calling.
It would only get worse as Las Vegas lost its home opener 36-22 to the Panthers. Fans aimed their scorn at the entire team but particularly at offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
He certainly deserves some blame. The fact that his former Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, has the Steelers off to a 3-0 start and is showing weekly improvement hasn't helped the case that Getsy is the right person for the job.
But while there are plenty of reasons to question whether Getsy should be the OC, the mess that is the Raiders offense is not all his making. The offensive line is banged up and struggling, there is no running game to speak of and — most important — there is no franchise quarterback in place.
Even Andy Reid would be challenged to win under these circumstances.
There's a reason why expectations were low for the Raiders entering the season, and last week's victory at Baltimore created a temporary amnesia that maybe Las Vegas could make a little bit of a run with an upcoming slate that included Carolina, Cleveland and Denver.
The Panthers built a 33-7 lead and showed emphatically that the Raiders can't overlook anyone. The Raiders are just 1-point favorites at BetMGM Sportsbook against the banged-up Browns, and the Broncos might not be such a pushover if Sunday's 26-7 rout of the Buccaneers is any indication.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was noncommittal Monday on whether he would stick with Gardner Minshew at quarterback or switch to Aidan O'Connell, and he said there could be changes coming to the team as a whole.
“After a loss like that, things need to change,” Pierce said.
He said he wouldn't make anything public until speaking with players, but how much he can change at this point is debatable. That includes at quarterback. Neither Minshew nor O'Connell projects to be the type of quarterback the Raiders need to get back into playoff contention on a regular basis.
First-year general manager Tom Telesco didn't land such a QB in the offseason, and he was largely given a pass because of how much the Raiders would have had to trade to move up in the draft. But he has to address that position if Las Vegas is to have a real chance in the future and not suffer more embarrassments like the one against the Panthers.
What’s working
Linebacker Robert Spillane continues to make plays, recording a game-high 11 tackles, a sack and tackle for loss against the Panthers. He leads the Raiders with 22 tackles for the season and has the team's only interception. Spillane is one of the few players who can come close to matching defensive end Maxx Crosby's intensity.
What needs help
There are numerous problems defensively. Two starters are out for the season with injuries, Crosby is clearly less than 100 percent with a high ankle sprain and the Raiders haven't been able to stop the run since the preseason. Other than that, everything's fine.
Stock up
Wide receiver Tre Tucker showed in preseason he could be more than simply a big-play receiver, and he is proving that right now that the games count. He caught seven passes on nine targets for 96 yards. Tucker's 54-yard catch set up the team's first touchdown and he caught an 8-yard TD.
Stock down
Teams are running at will on the Raiders. They have allowed 5.4 yards per rush, tied with Dallas for worst in the league. Carolina's Chuba Hubbard hit that mark on the nose in gaining 114 yards. That success was a major reason quarterback Andy Dalton had his way through the air in passing for 319 yards and three TDs.
Injuries
Injuries are piling up, with two more starters going down. Safety Marcus Epps is out for the season with a torn ACL, according to an NFL Network report. Right tackle Thayer Munford went out with knee and ankle injuries, and Pierce didn't have an update. It's also worth keeping an eye on Crosby, who wasn't himself against the Panthers in finishing with three tackles. How quickly he gets back to form remains to be seen.
Key number
23:58 — The possession time the Raiders had against the Panthers. It was the first time this season they came out on the negative side and their shortest time of possession since holding the ball for 20:27 in a 26-14 loss at Detroit last Oct. 30. Coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were fired the next night.
Next steps
The Raiders host the Browns on Sunday, their second of four AFC North opponents and second in three weeks.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Mark Anderson, The Associated Press
