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By the Numbers: Missed opportunities lead to loss in home opener

After a comeback victory at Baltimore in Week 2, the Raiders fell to the Carolina Panthers, 36-22, in the home opener.

The Silver and Black are now 1-2 on the season and 4-4 all time against Carolina.

Here are some key notes and metrics from Sunday's game.

A Tale Of Two Weeks

Las Vegas struggled to stop an energized Carolina offense led by newly-named starting quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton totaled 319 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, a stark contrast from Weeks 1 and 2, where the Panthers ranked 31st (102.0 yards per game) in passing offense and the Raiders sat at 15th (186.0 yards per game) in passing defense.

Just a week removed from becoming the first pair of Raiders teammates to each have nine receptions and 90 receiving yards in the same game, Davante Adams and Brock Bowers were limited to a combined seven catches and 81 receiving yards.

Missed Opportunities

Third-down conversion rates on both sides of the ball were decisive in the Raiders' defeat. Carolina converted 5-of-8 third down opportunities in the first half to help build a 21-7 halftime lead. The Raiders, meanwhile, finished the game 3-of-11 on third down.

The Raiders offense was on the field for 23:58 of game time, the team's fourth-lowest time of possession in a game since the start of the 2020 season.

Struggles to marry the rushing and passing attack contributed to the offense's inability to stay on the field and extend drives. Quarterbacks Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O'Connell completed 27-of-40 passes for 296 yards while only 55 of the team's 331 total yards came on the ground.

Individual Milestones

On a day with few silver linings on offense, wide receiver Tre Tucker was one of them.

The second-year pro showed his deep-play ability in the preseason with receptions of 44 and 48 yards but only totaled four catches on five targets through the first two weeks of the regular season. In the first quarter of Sunday's game, he connected with Minshew on a deep pass in between several Carolina defenders for a 54-yard gain. It was the longest catch of Tucker's career and the Silver and Black's longest pass play since Week 17 of the 2022 season.

Tucker finished with single-game career highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (96), plus an eight-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

Running back Alexander Mattison also found the end zone for the third week in a row, this time on a two-yard run in the first quarter. He is the third Raiders running back in the last 20 years to have a scrimmage touchdown in each of his first three games of a season, joining Marshawn Lynch in 2018 and Latavius Murray in 2016. Mattison is one of nine position players in the NFL to score in each of his team's three games this season.

In addition to his seven rushing yards, Mattison totaled three catches for 37 yards (12.3 avg.). He has been one of the league's most productive pass-catching running backs through three games.

Stat Rank Among Running Backs
Receiving Yards: 80 9th
Yards Per Reception: 11.4 5th
Receiving First Downs: 4 T-3rd

On defense, linebacker Robert Spillane led the team in tackles (11) for the third straight week and added a sack. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett logged his fourth pass defensed of the season, a new single-season career high, and Christian Wilkins tallied his first half-sack as a Raider.

View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 3 matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Allegiant Stadium.

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