Raiders Victory Against the Saints
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Aidan O’Connell and the Las Vegas Raiders played with an incredible amount of energy, showing remarkable sharpness for a last-place team that had ample reason to be sluggish. O’Connell threw for two touchdowns, and tight end Brock Bowers broke two rookie NFL records as the Raiders achieved a 25-10 win over the struggling New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
This convincing victory came after significant travel delays meant that Raiders players reached their hotel in New Orleans after midnight, less than 12 hours prior to kick-off. ‘These guys didn’t blink, flinch,’ said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce with a satisfied grin. ‘We got in at 1 o’clock in the morning, got up this morning and rolled.’
Brock Bowers Sets New Records
Bowers had seven catches for 77 yards, bringing his season total to an impressive 108 receptions for 1,144 yards. This achievement surpassed Mike Ditka’s 1961 rookie tight end record of 1,067 yards receiving and Puka Nacua’s 2023 record of 105 catches by a rookie in any position. Bowers also eclipsed the franchise mark of 107 receptions set by Darren Waller in 2020. ‘It’s pretty shocking to me,’ Bowers commented on his remarkable achievements, admitting he had ‘no clue what to expect, coming from college to the NFL.’
Ameer Abdullah’s Stellar Performance
In addition to O’Connell’s performance, Ameer Abdullah rushed for 115 yards, marking his first 100-yard game in his 10 seasons in the NFL. ‘I’m not surprised by it,’ Abdullah noted. ‘I put a lot of work in. I’m very consistent. … I’m happy for it, but I still think there’s a lot more out there for me.’
Challenges for the Saints
O’Connell completed 242 yards passing, connecting for touchdowns with Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. The Raiders’ victory came after a challenging period where they had endured a 10-game losing streak. ‘Better late than never,’ O’Connell said, noting the resilience of his teammates.
The Saints, who fielded rookie Spencer Rattler due to Derek Carr’s injury, faced obstacles of their own. Rattler completed 20 of 36 passes for 218 yards, including one TD and two interceptions. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi cited dropped passes, penalties, and issues in pass blocking as the primary causes of their offensive struggles. ‘I felt like Spencer really never got settled in there, and he was moving around,’ Rizzi said.
Moving Forward
The Saints managed to take an early lead using a trick play, yet the Raiders quickly regained control. With this win, the Raiders improved their record to 4-12 for the season. Looking forward, the Raiders will host the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Saints will travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As the season winds down, both teams are looking to build momentum for the upcoming challenges ahead.
