What We Saw: Week 3

Carolina Panthers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Final Score: Panthers 36, Raiders 22

Writer: Jason Wolf (@J_Wolf_Picks on Twitter)

Bryce Young was benched ahead of this Week 3 clash, setting us up for what was arguably the most surprising result of Sunday. The Panthers dog-walked the Raiders in a game where the 14-point final deficit could have been a lot bigger. Andy Dalton finished the first half 15/22 for 212 yards and three touchdowns (138.6 QBR), leading the Panthers to a 21-7 halftime lead. Carolina’s lead ballooned to a 33-7 lead before the Raiders added some garbage time offense with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.  Dalton came out firing, looking like prime Red Rifle and even better. Dalton had the Carolina offense humming, hitting receivers on all levels left and right, marking a stark contrast from the pulling teeth for a first down Bryce Young-led offense and dispatching the Raiders with ease in the process.

Three Up

• Diontae Johnson – For the first time since 2021, Diontae Johnson put up a 100+ yard performance. Johnson finally got above-average QB play, and he produced big time, showing off his elite separation skills on his way to an 8-catch, 122-yard performance. Johnson dominated the target share, and his connection with Andy Dalton was excellent. If Dalton is starting, Diontae’s prospects of solid production are way, way up.
• Chuba Hubbard  – Chuba Hubbard was given 25+ touches in a game that the Panthers controlled the vast majority of the game, accruing 169 total yards and a touchdown as well. His touches were highly efficient, gaining positive yardage in essentially every play. With the actual threat of a productive passing game, Hubbard was allowed more room to breathe than he had the first two weeks, making his job as a physical runner easier. Hubbard even flashed reliable hands, bringing down all five of his targets in the passing game.
• Aidan O’Connell – After Gardner Minshew’s interception, the Raiders inserted O’Connell as their QB with five minutes left in the game. Granted, it is easier to move the ball under those circumstances, but AOC came through with a quick and efficient 13-play, 82-yard TD scoring drive that lasted less than four minutes. He might not get the start next week just because of one drive, but it sure did increase his stock while Minshew’s went down.

Two Down

• Davante Adams – After a superb performance against the Ravens last week, Davante Adams followed that up with a dud, managing to bring in only four receptions on his nine targets for 40 yards. Adams is capable of having big games, but the week-to-week consistency looks like it will be a problem with the Raiders’ QB situation. Three Raiders players caught a pass of 20+ yards, while Adams’ longest snag on the day went for just 15. For much of the day, Davante Adams and Minshew seemed to be on completely different pages, resulting in mostly incompletions.
• Brock Bowers – I’m not saying to hit the panic button yet, but his usage in this game was concerning. Even before his first-half concussion scare, he only got three targets, a number too small considering he is their second most dangerous offensive weapon. Even though he came back and played the second half, he only got one more target, Following up his 9-target, 98-yard performance in Week 2, this was a disappointing output in a game that the Raiders were constantly playing from behind.

Carolina Panthers

Quarterback

Andy Dalton:  26/37, 319 Yards, 2 TD | 2 Carries, -2 Yards 

Andy Dalton came in off the bench and, to put it lightly, delivered, achieving a 70% completion rate to go along with 319 passing yards and three TDs. In what was Dalton’s first 3-TD game since 2022, he had total mastery over the offense. He was dropping dimes on all levels of the field, hooking up with three different receivers for 30+ yard gains. Dalton wasn’t just a marginal upgrade over benched QB Bryce Young; he had the offense looking like a completely different unit. Dalton started the game 5/6 for 52 yards and a TD and never looked back. This was honestly one of Dalton’s most memorable performances of his career, and the stats back it up as he had only thrown for 300+ yards and 3 TDs/0 INTs three times in the entirety of his Cincinnati tenure. In a day full of exceptional throws, his finest was a 31-yard dot to Adam Thielen that could not have been placed more perfectly. Thielen was running just slightly ahead of two DBs, and Dalton dropped it right in his hands deep in the endzone, just out of the hands of the defenders. Dalton showed off excellent rapport with his receivers, namely Diontae Johnson, who he repeatedly went to regardless of down or distance. Dalton was able to capitalize on Diontae’s uncanny knack to find himself open in a way that the Panthers were desperately hoping Bryce Young would.

Notes

• When the offensive line gave him time, he consistently delivered with well-placed balls. Dalton stepping up into a clean pocket and hitting his man in stride was a common sight throughout the game.
• Had one of his best throws of the day on a beautifully timed + placed throw on 3rd & 14 in the second quarter to Diontae Johnson that was perfectly lofted over the linebackers and under the safeties, dropping right into the soft spot of the zone right where Diontae hit the break of his route.
• Dalton’s second TD pass of the day was a great example of Dalton bringing something to the table that the Panthers desperately needed out of the QB position: the ability to make the right reads and anticipate what defenders will do. Dalton floated the ball over the defender, who had to cover the threat of the flats. Diontae didn’t look open when Dalton decided to do it, but anticipating the defense allowed for the Red Rifle to throw Johnson open for the TD.

Running Back

Chuba Hubbard:  21 Carries, 114 Yards | 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 55 Yards, TD 

As evidenced by his usage, Chuba Hubbard is the unquestionable workhorse RB in the Carolina backfield. After a more balanced 15:10 touch split with Miles Sanders in Week 2, Hubbard out-touched Sanders to the tune of a 26:9 split, and it’s no wonder why, as Hubbard can wear down defenses with his aggressive, physical running. Hubbard saw 10 carries in the first half and another 11 in the second, looking just as fresh on his late carries as he did in the first quarter. In the Panthers’ fourth quarter 12-play TD drive, Hubbard accounted for 52 of 69 total yards gained, proving his ability to handle a full workload and flourish while doing so. Hubbard also saw a surprising amount of action in the passing game, displaying a soft touch while totaling 55 yards, hauling in all five of his targets. Hubbard was routinely bouncing off defenders, doing a great job in picking up extra yards using his sturdy frame to the fullest.

Notes

• The benefit of offseason acquisition of OL Robert Hunt cannot be overstated as, on several occasions, he single-handedly opened up a large hole for Hubbard to run through. The revamped offensive line allowed Dalton and the offense to keep control of the ball, giving Hubbard the amount of touches he needed to shine and tire out the defense.
• Another thing that keeps Hubbard on the field a lot is his pass protection. Hubbard did a fantastic job on the day picking up blitzes in the backfield and ensuring Dalton had time to find the open man, such as on Dalton’s 20-yard pass to Tommy Tremble, which set up the Panthers’ opening drive TD.
• He is an ideal Carolina Panther. His hard-nosed, hard-effort style of play is a perfect representation of what this franchise needs, as he goes out there looking to make contact to fight for every yard that he can.
• Endless offseason reports of him putting in work on the JUGS machine are coming to fruition for Hubbard, as his skills as a pass catcher have come a long way.

Miles Sanders:  7 Carries, 17 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards

After seeing a more even split of touches between himself and Hubbard in Week 2, Miles Sanders took a clear back seat to Hubbard in this one, seeing 9 total touches compared to Hubbard’s 26. Sanders was also not nearly as effective on his touches, producing 30 yards in total. Sanders had a long run of six yards, but other than that, he only ran for 11 on his other six carries. Sanders was less impactful with the ball in his hands, and his game had the appearance to match, failing to do anything noteworthy or impressive with his touches. He did get a goal-line opportunity, which he converted on his first try.

Notes

• Might not have done anything flashy but broke through some attempted arm tackles to convert his goal-line chance.

Wide Receivers / Tight End

Diontae Johnson:  14 Targets, 8 Receptions, 122 Yards, TD

Being on the receiving end of above-average QB play for the first time in years did wonders for Diontae Johnson in this one. He finished the game with 122 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions (14 targets). His 14 targets were nine more than any other Panthers skill player, and he commanded a whopping 38% target share. The Raiders had no answer for Diontae, as he was regularly slipping defenders and picking up YAC. Normally known as a possession receiver, Johnson came down with three receptions of 15+ yards, matching his production from the first two weeks (35 yards) on a single catch-and-run. On his longest play of the game (35 yards), Johnson got open a few yards deep on a slant but then juked the safety out of his shoes before making the CB who was covering him slip and fall from another juke. This play was a microcosm of Johnson’s day, as he was gaining separation consistently and picking up good YAC after securing the ball. The connection between Dalton and Diontae in this one game is already leagues ahead of where Bryce and Johnson were in the first two weeks.

Adam Thielen:  5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 40 Yards, TD

Adam Thielen was on the receiving end of Andy Dalton’s best pass of the game, which went for a 31-yard TD. Thielen just outran the defense and got a step behind them, just enough for Dalton to throw it where only he could make a play on it, coming down with the big play score. It was an excellent individual play as Thielen did a full-body dive at full speed, securing the ball in the end zone on his way down and injuring himself in the process. Thielen had a couple of receptions on the Panthers’ first drive, helping them build momentum on their way to an opening-drive TD.

Notes

• Thielen’s day was unfortunately finished on his TD catch, injuring his hamstring and leaving the game following the touchdown. He did not return to the game but had a solid day, considering he got all his numbers in the first half.

Missed Opportunities

• Thielen dropped a ball on 3rd & 11 that would have gone for 15 yards and the first down but instead dropped it at the last second, resulting in a Panthers punt. The degree of difficulty was surely high as Thielen had to drop down to his knees on the run to make the catch, but he was so close and did all the hard work, only to not finish the playoff, dropping the ball on contact with the ground.

Xavier Legette:  3 Targets, 2 Receptions, 42 Yards 

Rookie WR Xavier Legette flashed his enticing speed on both of his touches, especially on his long gain of 35 yards. He caught a simple crossing route about 10 yards deep but then picked up an extra 20+ by just slipping by his defender and then outrunning defenders at the second level. He only saw three targets on the day, but he is an exciting player to watch when he gets the ball in his hands. Feels like there will inevitably be games where they look to him more for big plays (especially with Thielen picking up a potential multi-week injury).

Notes

• Feels like a secret weapon just waiting to be unleashed, especially with Andy Dalton at the helm, who might be able to help unlock Legette’s potential.

Jonathan Mingo:  4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards | 1 Carry, 2 Yards 

Notes

• Got his regularly scheduled designed touch on a trick play when he received an end-around that only went for two yards. The Panthers did call his number when they were backed up near their end zone and dialed up a WR screen for him, which he did a good job of catching and running upfield for a quick 10-yard gain.

Tommy Tremble:  3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 29 Yards 

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

Gardner Minshew: 18/28, 214 Yards, TD, INT | 3 Carries, 14 Yards

In a day of mostly lows, Gardner Minshew was pulled from the game late in the fourth quarter in favor of Aidan O’Connell. Minshew failed to move the ball for most of the game, only producing one scoring drive prior to garbage time in the fourth quarter, where a significant amount of his production came from. Though there is much to love about Minshew, he is still a flawed QB who usually produces a mixed bag, and today was no different. He showed off his heart and desire to win on third-down play where he dove head first, sacrificing his body and stretching himself out for the first down marker, just getting it in the process. He flashed his arm strength when he uncorked a deep bomb to Tre Tucker that traveled 50+ yards in the air and was delivered perfectly in stride to Tucker just ahead of the nearby defender. There are times when Minshew makes great plays, and there are even more times when his lack of fundamentals gets him in trouble. He had a problem on the day with antsy feet under slight pressure. Instead of decisively scrambling out of the pocket for a positive gain or to extend the play, Minshew would dance in the pocket for too long, having to force a throw or settle for an incomplete. Minshew also seemed to be on a different page than his receivers on numerous occasions, most notably on his interception targeting Davante Adams. We can’t say for sure whether or not the blame for these miscommunications belongs on Minshew, HC Pierce, or OC Luke Getsy, but they don’t speak well of Minshew’s command of the offense and ability to get everyone on the same page.

Notes

• Though he didn’t use his feet to make too many plays on the ground, his mobility is one of the only things somewhat masking the Raiders’ massive issues on the offensive line. Minshew could have been sacked a few more times, but he did a good job escaping potential sacks and pressure.

Aidan O’Connell:  9/12, 82 Yards, TD

With under five minutes remaining and the game well out of hand, the Raiders gave Aidan O’Connell a chance to show what he could do, and he looked pretty good on his way to delivering a 13-play scoring drive that ended in a touchdown. Though O’Connell did look solid, it is important to note that the Panthers’ defense was clearly playing loose and not trying to overcommit. They were willing to let AOC pick up a few yards here and there, and that’s exactly what he did. That being said, O’Connell did get the ball out much quicker than Minshew, which was one of the biggest issues on the day. The backup QB hit 75% of his passes and orchestrated the drive in under 4 minutes. O’Connell’s YPA was less than 7, so he wasn’t asked to do much other than get the ball out quickly and safely, which he did. On one of his incompletions, pressure was arriving, and he quickly aborted and threw the ball away from the pocket, visibly fearing the potentially big hit. He overthrew an open receiver on a 1st & 10 pass that could have gone for 10+ yards. A starting caliber QB has got to make that throw, which was largely unaffected by pressure.

Notes

• His throw on 1st & goal with one minute left should have been intercepted, which would have made his day look a lot worse on paper than it ended up being. O’Connell threw the ball right at the LB, but he just couldn’t come down with it. He probably wasn’t expecting such a gimme opportunity, but O’Connell is incredibly lucky he dropped it. The next play was a TD, which O’Connell did well to extend the play. But if the would-be INT was picked, we’d be talking about the interception and not how well he played.

Running Back

Zamir White:  10 Carries, 34 Yards

Zamir White operated as the lead back for whatever that was worth in this game (not much). He received 10 carries to Alexander Mattison’s two. However, he didn’t receive a target out of the backfield while Mattison saw three, which severely limited his potential to produce yardage in a game they were constantly playing from behind. The highlight of his game was a nine-yard rush where Brock Bowers threw a beautiful block and cleared a big hole for White to run through. His other touches produced nothing of note and were all entirely forgettable.

Alexander Mattison:  3 Carries, 7 Yards, TD | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 37 Yards 

Though he saw fewer touches than starter Zamir White, Alexander Mattison was more productive and efficient. He didn’t make any noise on the ground, but he was given a goal-line opportunity, which he converted for a TD on his first attempt. He was also put in on the Raiders’ first third down of the day, putting the ball in his hands to keep their drive going, which he did. Mattison’s above-average pass protection on third down will keep him in most of the time in these passing down situations.

Ameer Abdullah:  2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Davante Adams:  9 Targets, 5 Receptions, 40 Yards 

Boy, was this a day to forget for Davante Adams. The most memorable part of his performance today (other than his multiple drops) was his halftime show. While the Raiders were walking back to their locker room with their heads held low at halftime, Adams just sat on the bench with a stupefied look on his face, shaking his head in disbelief at how the game was unfolding. His body language is often outwardly negative when the Raiders lose games, naturally inciting rumors about his seemingly inevitable trade out of Las Vegas. On the field, his connection with Minshew was completely off today. More than once, there was an obvious miscommunication as Minshew threw to a spot entirely different than where Adams’ route took him. This has been a reoccurring theme for the Raiders offense so far, and today was no different as Adams and Minshew were on different pages or maybe using different playbooks, leading to more incompletions (5) than receptions (4) for Adams. It didn’t help that Panthers’ star CB Jaycee Horn was all over Adams all day, putting in an excellent defensive effort to limit one of the best receivers in the game.

Notes

• He did have an impressive individual play, flashing his excellent hands on his 15-yard catch when he snared a somewhat inaccurately thrown ball from Minshew.

Missed Opportunities

• Had a couple of uncharacteristic drops. Can’t help but make you question whether he is giving his team his all at this point.
• Had almost secured a pass for a third down conversion, but the Carolina DB came in and punched the ball out at the last second. Excellent play by the defender, but I wouldn’t disagree with a Raiders fan saying that they expect him to make the catch anyway.

Tre Tucker:  9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 96 Yards, TD

Tre Tucker surprisingly tied for the team lead in targets (9) with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. A week after the offense was funneled through Adams and Brock Bowers, Tucker was doing most of the damage in Week 3. Tucker did well to get open on his TD catch, running all over the place on an extended play before working himself open and providing an outlet for a scrambling Aidan O’Connell on his lone TD pass of the day. While Tucker’s usage was encouraging, it is important to note that four of his nine targets came on garbage time drives in the final quarter, where defenses notoriously ease up. Other than his long ball of 54 yards, Tucker’s other targets and catches were all pretty short, which was questionable, seeing as he is primarily their deep-threat guy.

Notes

• Beat Panthers’ CB Mike Jackson on an inside release and hit a next gear that not too many people have on his way to burning the defense on his 54-yard gain. Tucker’s speed is a serious weapon that could be utilized more often with a more accurate QB. Minshew was able to hit him with a beautiful ball on their big gain, but he’s got the potential to do something big every week.

Missed Opportunities

• Should have been targeted more in the middle of the game with the team down and needing chunk plays.

Jakobi Meyers:  9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 62 Yards, TD

Jakobi Meyers finished in a 3-way tie for the team lead in targets (9) along with Tre Tucker and Davante Adams, making a nice individual play on his TD catch when he caught the ball a few yards outside the endzone and outmuscled his way through two defenders to hit paydirt. Though his final stats look nice, the vast majority of his production came on Aidan O’Connell’s final drive in deep garbage time. Meyers was targeted five times on that last drive, accounting for 44 of his 62 total yards. Before that final drive, Meyers only had four targets, tied with Bowers for the third most.

Brock Bowers:  4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 41 Yards

Rookie sensation TE Brock Bowers was unfortunately under-utilized in this one as he only saw four targets, though he did a nice job to make the most of them, totaling 41 yards on three receptions. On one of his receptions, he juked a defender out of his boots on his way to picking up some good YAC. Bowers is so quick off the line and nimble with the ball in his hands. He is truly a special TE talent, and it’s obvious every time he touches the ball. Now, the Raiders just need to work on getting him the ball more consistently. He did have a concussion scare late in the first half, temporarily leaving the game before returning with the team for the second half. Between questionable offensive philosophy and questionable QB play, Bowers’ prospects of sustained production are a little murky, which is a shame because the talent is obviously there.

Missed Opportunities

• Didn’t get his first touch until seven minutes left in the second quarter. Twenty minutes without even attempting to get the ball in the hands of one of your most dangerous weapons is just offensive malpractice.