Raiders Triplets Win First Game in Vegas, beat Saints 34-24

   Las Vegas, NV – In the Super Bowl era, Home teams are 6-3 on their opening debuts in new stadiums. Make that 7-3 now, as the Las Vegas Raiders not only pulled off their first home win at Allegiant Stadium, they did so by stunning a play-off caliber New Orleans Saints team, beating them 34-24 thanks to the old-school play-calling style by head coach Jon Gruden on offense, and taking advantage of a clearly washed-up Drew Brees on defense.  

Carr, Jacobs, and Waller make up Raiders’ Triplets 

            Prior to the start of the season, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr told the media that he was tired of being disrespected. Seems like the whole Raiders offense got the message, like Carr, along with second-year halfback Josh Jacobs and underrated (and bargain-priced) tight end Darren Waller have gone on an absolute tear in 2020, with their individual performances against the Saints being the epitome of their rising production. Carr went 28/38 (52% completion) for 282 passing yards and three touchdowns. The game didn’t start off so hot for Carr, as he was sacked on back to back plays because he held on to the ball way too long (coverage sacks by David Onyemata and Malcolm Jenkins). But at the start of the second quarter, Carr was a changed quarterback; looking comfortable in the pocket and quick in his decision making.  

His favorite target of the night; tight end Darren Waller, who caught 12 balls for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Saints defense had no answer for the 6’6 tight end, as he humiliated proven veterans like safety Malcolm Jenkins, corner Janoris Jenkins, and middle linebacker Demario Davis. “He’s battled an addiction to get here. He’s a success story, and that’s something I love seeing,” Carr said about his tight end in his post-game presser. On the ground game, Josh Jacobs ran like a man running with purpose against that stellar Saints front seven, grinding out 88 rushing yards on 27 carries. Jacobs fits the running back mold Coach Gruden looks for; hard-hitting, quick on his feet, and capable making plays in the air (Jacobs: 3 catches, 17 yards). Paired with a speedy Jalen Richard (2-26-1), and Gruden has a rushing attack that could rival Cleveland’s backfield.  

As for the Raiders defense, rookie defensive back David Arnette showed why he was taken in the first round, compiling seven solo tackles on the day, while veteran linebacker Nicholas Murrow picked off Drew Brees late in the second quarter. Second-year Johnathan Abrams played well in his third career game after missing most of last year with a torn rotator cuff. Against the Saints, he had four tackles and a pass deflection. 

2020 Drew Brees = 2015 Peyton Manning 

             Drew Brees may be 41-years-old, but against the Raiders, he played…like a 41-year-old man. Don’t let the numbers fool you (26/38-312-1-1), Brees’ arm looked like a noodle, as the future-Hall-of-Famer looked like he lost that zip in his passing game. Head coach Sean Payton’s plan going in was rather conservative: give running back Alvin Kamara as many touches as possible, while limiting Brees to short-to-medium passes, nothing that requires him to throw more than 15-20 yards down the field. Kamara looked like his 2018 Offensive rookie of the year self, leading the Saints both in rushing (13-79-2) and receiving (9-95) yards for a total 174 yards from scrimmage. The rest of the receiving corps was serviceable, but the Michael Thomas-sized hole in the offense is too evident to ignore. Free-agent acquisition Emmanuel Sanders was supposed to try to fill the said hole, but he didn’t register a catch until less than two minutes left in the game. 

            On defense, that top 10-ranked defense started the game off looking like an elite unit, but crumbled and withered during the course of the game, especially when it came to penalties. Las Vegas only registered three penalties for a loss of 13 yards on the night. New Orleans had 10 penalties for a loss of 129 yards, with a good chunk of that yardage coming off defensive holding and pass interference calls. Safety Malcolm Jenkins looked like a shell of his former self, while star-defensive tackle Cameron Jordan could only register five tackles the whole night, none for a loss. 

What’s next? 

            Las Vegas took down a playoff-caliber team in the Saints, but their true test will come next Sunday, as the Black and Silver travel to Foxboro to take on a Patriots team looking to avenge their Sunday Night Football loss to Seattle the other night. 

            As for New Orleans, they host a Packers team that tore two NFC North opponents apart in the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, respectively. Aaron Rodgers is playing with the same mindset as Derek Carr: he’s tired of the disrespect, and the Saints are his next target of anger. 

Writer

-By: Juan Guarin-Camargo