The Raiders opened up their new stadium in Las Vegas, and beat the Saints,
The Raiders went to Vegas Monday night and won big.
Spotting the New Orleans Saints an early 10-point lead, the Raiders played keepaway on offense and made enough key plays on defense for a 34-24 win in the first game in the history of Allegiant Stadium.
Quarterback Derek Carr completed 28 of 38 passes for 282 yards and touchdowns of 3 yards to Alec Ingold, 15 yards to Zay Jones and 1 yard to Darren Waller. Jalen Richard had a 20-yard touchdown run on thirdand-10 with 7:43 to go, and Daniel Carlson added field goals of 28 and 54 yards, the latter coming with 1:08 to play.
Carr threw a lot to tight end Darren Waller and a little to everyone else, completing passes to 10 different receivers. Waller was targeted 16 times and caught 12 for 103 yards, while no other receiver had three passes thrown in his direction.
Josh Jacobs carried 27 times for 87 yards against a New Orleans defense that was bent on stopping him.
The Raiders converted so many third downs (10 of 16) they dominated time of possession and kept New Orleans off the field. They scored on six of their last seven possessions.
It was a statment game for the Raiders, given it came against an opponent that was 37-11 over the last three years and came in as 5 1/2 point favorites in their new home.
New Orleans led 10-0 and 17-7 before the Raiders kicked in to gear. The Saints scored on a 1-yard run by Alvin Kamara and a 6-yard pass from Drew Brees to Jared Cook.
After the Raiders had gone up 31-17, Brees took
New Orleans 67 yards in eight plays with Kamara scoring from the 3 with 4:33 to play. Brees was 23 of 33 for 263 yards.
The Saints committed 10 penalties for 129 yards to three for 13 yards for the Raiders.
Highs, lows and all you need to know on the Raiders’ debut in Las Vegas:
TFEFPSTION >> Having fumbled earlier on a potentially game-turning play, Richard got took a third-and-10 pitch from the 20, got blocks from right guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Denzelle Good and raced in for the touchdown.
TIDKATE’U HWPCLF >> With the Raiders controlling the clock and churning out first downs, Jalen Richard lost a basic pitch — running before he secured the ball — on a third-and-2 carry from the Saints 34-yard line. A.J. Williams fell on the gift, the Raiders first turnover of the season. It was a potential big gain, and instead it was a turnover after 17 unanswered points.
At that point, the Raiders
had converted 8 of 13 third downs.
TKF CII UTOS >> The Raiders were getting gouged in terms of yardage, but following Richard’s fumble they came up huge.
New Orleans didn’t score and was forced to punt as Brees missed open receivers and the Raiders put just enough pressure on him to make him uncomfortable.
CLADN JADN TFEWY >> Last time the Raiders played the Saints, they went for a win on a two-point conversion pass by order of Jack Del Rio rather than a tie. Carr hit Michael Crabtree for a 35-34 win.
Gruden took a fourthdown gamble on the first possession of the second half, going for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the 1 after two harrowing plays — a lost ball that Jacobs recovered and fumbled snap by Carr that the Raiders recovered. Carr play-faked, rolled to his right and hit Waller for a 1-yard touchdown and a 24-17 lead.
JONFU CTFANU TKTOWIK >>
Jones spent time before training camp settling in the Las Vegas area and running routes with Carr. Called one of the most improved Raiders by Gruden, Jones didn’t catch a pass in the opener but his 15yard scoring grab with 1:55 left in the half brought the Raiders within 17-14.
USTFAEINI IT ATOWNE >>
Carr, who completed passes to nine different receivers in Week 1, connected to nine by halftime against New Orleans. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
POTTOX’U CII SLAa >> The Raiders went in to halftime tied 17-17 courtesy of the first Allegiant takeaway, courtesy of linebacker Nicholas Morrow.
Morrow, taking the role of defensive signal caller in place of the injured Nick Kwiatkoski, settled into a zone and Brees threw the ball directly to him with 55 seconds left. Morrow returned the gift six yards to the Saints 40-yard line.
Carr for the Raiders got as far as the 9-yard line but couldn’t connect with Jones on third-and-2 from the 9 with four seconds left. Daniel Carlson kicked a 28-yard field goal to tie the score 1717.
INIOLE EOFU TKF KONOTU >>
On first-and-goal from the 3 in the second quarter, Ingold capped a 63-yard scoring drive with a touchdown reception from Carr on first and goal. It was the first Raiders score at Allegiant. The drive took 6:18 off the clock and closed the Raiders to within 10-7.
INDOINITO OWT >> Left guard Richie Incognito, who has an Achilles’ injury, was wearing a ball cap early.