Establishing the run was at the forefront of Pierce’s vision for this team. It’s also the team’s biggest failure this season. So far, the Raiders rank dead last in rushing yards per game with just 49. They also rank 32nd in yards per attempt — 2.51. They have 153 rushing yards on the season.

The Raiders have just two rushing touchdowns this year, and have been a one-dimensional offense thus far, much to the chagrin of their head coach.

It seemed like the least likely thing the Panthers could have done. They, quite frankly, torched the Raiders defense. Quarterback Andy Dalton was 26 of 37 passing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He made the Panthers offense look completely different than the Bryce Young Panthers.

The run game was dominant, as mentioned. Chuba Hubbard had a touchdown and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson had eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Adam Thielen was dominant before leaving with an injury after the first half.

All-Pro defensive end Maxx Crosby was quiet all game, especially as his ankle injury became more apparent. Taken out of the equation. When Miles Sanders hit one on the goal line, it slid past Crosby unscathed.

Crosby made just three tackles, one solo and one pass defended.

Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was 18-of-28 for 214 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The interception was particularly bad, as he threw the ball directly to Carolina’s Michael Jackson. Minshew also recorded two bad sacks.

Minshew has been a pendulum this season, like most gunslinger quarterbacks. He takes chances, he tries to extend plays, and sometimes it gets unmanageable at the expense of his own team. Today, he came out flat. And so did the rest of the team.

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