The Las Vegas Raiders experienced a devastating loss on Sunday. Despite being favorites in the matchup, they were dominated by the struggling Carolina Panthers. The defense performed poorly, primarily due to their ineffective pass rush.
Quarterback Andy Dalton had ample time in the pocket, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Normally, when edge rusher Maxx Crosby is fully healthy, opposing quarterbacks don’t receive this much time, but he is currently injured, as confirmed after the game.
Crosby’s injury isn’t new; he was limited in practice following an injury during Las Vegas’ Week 2 victory. This situation could worsen for the Raiders, who have already lost Malcolm Koonce for the season, and their first-round draft pick, Tyree Wilson, has been largely ineffective.
#Raiders DE Maxx Crosby said he has a high ankle sprain.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) September 23, 2024
With Koonce sidelined and Crosby hindered, the defensive line is in a tough spot. Compounding issues, the Raiders’ secondary was also exposed. Without a pass rush, the expectation was for the secondary to perform better, which did not happen. The Raiders urgently need to develop a pass rush with Crosby’s injury in mind. While Crosby might push to play, he is not performing at full capacity. Las Vegas must find someone else to help pressure opposing quarterbacks.
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