Last Week: Chargers 24, Raiders 19
Three interceptions thrown by Raiders quarterback Derek Carr doomed the Raiders to a loss in coach Josh McDaniels’ regular-season debut. The game between the AFC West rivals in LA’s SoFi Stadium was otherwise even, but the Chargers committed no turnovers behind a hyper-efficient short-passing attack led by quarterback Justin Herbert. Carr also took five sacks, including a pair back-to-back at the end of the game when former Raider Khalil Mack also forced him to fumble. Those third- and fourth-down strip-sacks officially ended a potential game-winning drive and wasted a memorable Raider debut from superstar receiver Davante Adams, who reeled in 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
This Week: Cardinals (0-1) at Raiders (0-1)
When: Sunday, September 18, 1:25 p.m.
Where: Allegiant Stadium
TV: CBS (Channel 8)
Radio: 920 AM, 92.3 FM
Betting line: Raiders -3.5, over/under: 3.5
Matchup: The Cardinals appeared to greatly miss defensive captain/edge rusher Chandler Jones, who signed with the Raiders this offseason, in a 44-21 Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. The game was even more of a blowout than the score indicates, with Kansas City scoring touchdowns on its three drives in Arizona and going up 37-7 in the third quarter before slowing its attack the rest of the way. Arizona should have an above-average offense this season behind quarterback Kyler Murray—though he threw for only 193 yards and less than six yards per attempt against Kansas City—but its defense looks like one of the worst in the league on paper.
Raider to Watch: Quarterback Derek Carr
The front office spent the offseason stacking the roster with skill players around him, but Carr can’t be careless with the ball as he was in Week 1. Was it simply a bad day, shaking off rust after not playing in the preseason, or a sign of things to come? Carr struggled to adjust in the first year of coach Jon Gruden’s system in 2018 during one of his worst seasons, so it wouldn’t be unprecedented for him to go through similar growing pains under McDaniels. Against the Cardinals’ defense, the ninth-year quarterback should have a golden opportunity to settle down and bounce back.
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