Carolina at Oakland, Week 10
Sunday, 4 p.m.
If the Panthers hope to break out of a two-game skid on the road, they'll need to move better on offense. In defeats at Tampa Bay and Minnesota in which they were outscored 47-10, Carolina gained a total of 87 rushing yards. QB Jake Delhomme had no touchdowns and five turnovers in those games.
Help is on the way today, as starting T Jeff Otah, who missed four game with a sprained ankle, and starting C Ryan Kalil, who missed three with a sprained ankle, are both expected to return. It should improve an already deep group, which performed well without them -- the team is on pace for a franchise low in sacks allowed. Then again, rookie RB Jonathan Stewart, who leads the team with five rushing touchdowns while platooning with DeAngelo Williams, has a sore heel and is questionable.
The Panthers' back-loaded schedule features four more road games after today -- none of which are against teams currently below .500. Thus, it's a good time to and place for the Raiders, who are continuing the franchise razing that most bad teams save for the offseason.
With high-priced CB DeAngelo Hall now gone, it's replacement Chris Johnson's turn. If there's any doubt that opposing teams might pick on a journeyman who has one start and one interception over his five NFL seasons, consider how much of a no-fly zone Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha has made the opposite side of the field: According to STATS Inc., Asomugha, who plays almost entirely man-to-man, has allowed 65 yards receiving all season. Before he was waived, Hall, a two-time Pro Bowler, allowed 552 yards. As a team, the Raiders have allowed 1,730 passing yards. This says two things: Asomugha is the best player no one talks about, and Johnson could be in a for a very long rest of the season.
By
David Larimer
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November 7, 2008; 10:00 AM ET
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Game Previews Week 10
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