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Panthers visit reeling Raiders

Nov 4, 2008 - 6:47 PM CAROLINA (6-2) AT OAKLAND (2-6), 4:05 EST

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- A bye week should not give the Carolina Panthers much of an advantage over the Oakland Raiders, who pretty much took the past weekend off.

Looking to purge the memory of one of the more abysmal performances in franchise history, the Raiders host the NFC South-leading Panthers on Sunday.

The Raiders were dreadful in last Sunday's game against another NFC South foe. Oakland was held to negative yardage in the first half and 77 overall in a humbling 24-0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

The three first downs - none in the first half - by the Raiders tied for the third-fewest in league history since the merger in 1970. The 77 total yards marked the franchise's worst total since getting 58 in 1961 against the San Diego Chargers.

The hideous performance prompted safely Gibril Wilson to refer to the team as "near the laughingstock" of the NFL.

Oakland fell to 1-3 since interim coach Tom Cable replaced the fired Lane Kiffin. The Raiders have managed just 29 points in that span and were beaten soundly in all three defeats.

"We did not do anything in terms of what we were trying to do offensively," Cable said. "I thought defensively, we were not in sync right from the get go. It was not a very good effort today by the Oakland Raiders."



Quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, rushed for 46 yards on two carries, but was just 6-for-19 for 31 yards as the Raiders were shut out for the first time this season.

"We are a much better football team as a whole than what we showed," Russell said. "Every possible thing that could go bad went bad."

A quick turnaround does not appear promising against Carolina, which posted back-to-back home wins over New Orleans and Arizona entering its bye week.

The Panthers were impressive in the comeback win over the Cardinals, wiping out a 17-3 third-quarter deficit behind a pair of scoring passes from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith, including a 65-yarder that put them ahead to stay.

Delhomme, who is a year removed from "Tommy John" surgery, has nine touchdown passes and five interceptions - three coming in a loss at Tampa Bay.

Carolina's two-pronged running attack of DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart has combined for nearly 900 yards while scoring five touchdowns apiece. Carolina's defense also has held up its end, allowing an NFC-low 127 points.