Raiders Deliver Convincing Victory Against the Saints
The Las Vegas Raiders traveled to New Orleans to take on the Saints and won 25-10. Las Vegas won its second game in a row, proving they are not tanking for a high draft pick. Whether it's a smart thing to do remains to be seen. Closing the season on a high note could carry over to the next season. With that said, there were some notable takeaways from the Raiders’ latest victory.
Bowers Continues Strong Play
On Sunday, Brock Bowers caught seven passes for 77 yards on seven targets. Bowers also broke two significant NFL and Raiders team records in the game. He overtook Mike Ditka for the NFL rookie tight end receiving yardage record, which had stood for 63 years, broke Puka Nacua's NFL rookie receptions record, and became the Raiders' new single-season receptions record holder, surpassing the previous record of 105. Bowers now has 108 catches for 1,144 yards and four touchdowns.
Raiders’ Running Game
Despite the Raiders' season-long struggle with running the ball, their offensive line stepped up on Sunday. Las Vegas rushed for an impressive 156 yards against the Saints, with running back Ameer Abdullah leading the way with 20 carries for 115 yards. It was a career day for Abdullah, who also caught three passes for 32 yards before leaving with a foot injury. The offensive line's exceptional run blocking was key to this success.
Another Strong Day for O'Connell
Raiders starting quarterback Aidan O'Connell passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He had a passer rating of 97.6 and a QBR of 89.2. More importantly, he did not turn the ball over and hit seven different receivers well. O'Connell's performance is particularly significant given the Raiders' ongoing quarterback situation, with the team being in the market for a franchise quarterback. O'Connell may not be the long-term answer for the Raiders at quarterback, but his solid play proves he belongs in the NFL. Once again, the Raiders offensive line gave O'Connell time to pass so he could push the ball downfield.
Defense
The Raiders' defense played well Sunday, especially in the second half when the Saints were shut out. Las Vegas picked Spencer Rattler twice in the second half, one by Thomas Harper and the other by Jack Jones. The Saints' lone touchdown came on a trick play on a 30-yard pass to Foster Moreau. The Raiders gave up just 269 total yards and held the Saints to one for 10 on third downs.
