Who stood out among the individual performances in the Raiders win in New Orleans?
It’s too little, way too late, but the Raiders had their best overall game of the season on Sunday in New Orleans.
After falling behind 7-3 early in the second quarter, they came back to take a 13-10 lead before the half and never looked back. The offense added 12 points in the second half while holding the Saints scoreless for the 25-10 win.
Ballers
QB Aidan O’Connell
O’Connell passes were the catalyst for both the Raiders’ touchdown drives. The first pass was a gorgeous, perfect throw to Jacobi Meyers, who made an over-the-shoulder grab for 29 yards to put the Raiders in scoring range. He connected with Brock Bowers for 17 yards on the next play. Then after a run to mix it up, the found Meyers again for the touchdown from three yards out.
The other touchdown drive, O’Connell found Bowers again on third down for 13 yards. A few plays later, on third and six, he bought some time, and while falling away, launched a pass, finding Tre Tucker in the back corner of the end zone for the clincher.
He also had a deep completion to Terrace Marshall on the Raiders’ second scoring drive, and a tight window completion to Meyers on the first scoring drive of the second half.
LB Robert Spillane
Spillane terrorized the Saints in the third quarter. The first possession he had a run stuff and a pressure on third down to force an incompletion. Next drive he ended by nearly intercepting a pass that may have been a house call. He was frustrated he didn’t get the pick, so he took it out on Spencer Rattler by breaking up another pass and then sacking Rattler to end the next possession.
He led the team with eight tackles (four solo), with two for a loss, a sack, and two pass breakups.
RB Ameer Abdullah
Abdullah had his first career 100-yard rushing game. He finished with 115 yards on the ground and added three catches for 32 yards for a total of 147 yards from scrimmage.
He was the main factor in the first drive, rushing seven times for 41 yards and catching a 12-yard pass that looked for a moment like it might be a touchdown, but was ruled just short of the end zone. Unfortunately the Raiders couldn’t get that extra few inches and settled for a field goal. But the run was established.
Abdullah added an 11-yard run on the next scoring drive that put the Raiders in field goal range. Then his 13-yard run set up the Raiders with first and goal at the three and they retook the lead before the half.
He would get over the 100-yard hump late in the third quarter on an eight-yard run that led out a field goal drive that gave their their first two-score lead.
TE Brock Bowers
Not only did he lead the Raiders in receiving with seven catches for 77 yards, he set three huge records along the way.
Late in the second quarter, he made a 13-yard catch that broke Mike Ditka’s rookie tight end receiving yards record that had stood for 63 years. He added a 17-yard catch a few plays later and the Raiders went on to get their first touchdown of the day to take a 13-7 lead.
Late in the third quarter, he caught two passes for 26 yards and broke the rookie receptions record which was set last year by Puka Nacua. Of course, Nacua set it in 17 games and Bowers just broke it in 16. But who’s counting. The Raiders went on to add another field goal to take a two-score lead at 19-10.
On the next drive, Bowers would catch a 13-yard pass on third and five and break the Raiders franchise single-season receptions record. Three plays later, the Raiders scored the touchdown to put the game out of reach.
CB Jack Jones
Jones led the team with three pass breakups. He also had a diving interception off a deflection and the Raiders scored the game-clinching touchdown on the ensuing drive.. Then he nearly had a second interception to end any chance the Saints might try and come back.
WR Jakobi Meyers
The first touchdown drive saw Meyers get behind his defender and Aidan O’Connell drop on in his bread basket for a 29-yard completion. Meyers tracked the ball over his shoulder to make a nice grab. Three plays later, he went on a quick out from three yards out and caught the touchdown.
Meyers also had a tight window 19-yard grab on the Raiders scoring drive to lead out the third quarter.
DT Adam Butler. DE Tyree Wilson
Butler’s run stuff for no gain ended the Saints first possession. And he made the stop to end their first drive of the second quarter.
At the end of the second quarter, the Saints drive into scoring range. It stalled with Wilson getting a QB hit and then a pressure to force an incompletion.
Late in the fourth quarter, on the Saints last gasp, Butler led a three-and-out with a tackle on a short catch and Wilson teamed up for the sack to clinch the win.
LT Kolton Miller
Not only did he give O’Connell plenty of time to throw, but he was also several times opening holes and getting the second level to help Abdullah have his career day on the ground. Best game of the season for Miller.
K Daniel Carlson
Carlson scored 13 of the Raiders 25 points in the game. He was four for four on field goals including a 54-yarder in the third quarter that put the Raiders up 16-10.
Busters
None
While there were mistakes made, none were glaring and no one had a particularly bad day. Any Busters from this one would be reaching.
