The Las Vegas Raiders dropped to 0-2 within the preseason after Saturday night time’s 27-12 loss to the Dallas Cowboys as all eyes stay on the quarterback competitors between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell, who’re each nonetheless within the operating to begin in Week 1.
Whereas the QB competitors is of course entrance and middle, there’s one other unit on the crew that’s set as much as be dominant, and Pat McAfee agrees.
Through the sport, the Raiders performed their starters for a number of drives early on, and Pat McAfee was significantly impressed with one unit on the protection, saying on X “Raiders D-line is gonna be an issue.”
Raiders D Line is gonna be an issue
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 18, 2024
Defensive finish Maxx Crosby continues to be the star of the present and is simply getting higher after posting profession highs with 90 tackles and 14.5 sacks final season, and he can be bookended by Malcolm Koonce, who broke out to submit eight sacks and three pressured fumbles final season.
The massive offseason addition got here within the type of Christian Wilkins, who left the Miami Dolphins to signal a hefty four-year, $110 million deal to be the brand new anchor of the Raiders protection at defensive sort out.
He is among the greatest within the sport at his place and posted a career-high 9 sacks final season, and his presence ought to liberate Crosby and Koonce much more.
This unit can be dependable, as Crosby hasn’t missed a sport in his five-year profession whereas Koonce has performed all 17 video games the previous two seasons and Wilkins hasn’t missed a sport since 2020.
The offense has some query marks, however the boys within the trenches on protection are positioned to eat this season.
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