The offensive that Josh McDaniels has brought to the desert continued to roll on Sunday afternoon.
The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 in their first 2022 preseason game in Allegiant Stadium.
The Raider’s offense clicked in the preseason win against the Vikings
The offensive that Josh McDaniels has brought to the desert continued to roll on Sunday afternoon.
The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 in their first 2022 preseason game in Allegiant Stadium.
This is the very first time that many of the Raider’s new players were at their new home stadium and surrounded by fans them. The team’s locker room was overwhelmed by the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd which included Coach McDaniels.
“I’ve been to a lot of preseason games in 22 years and I can’t recall a single moment like this one,” McDaniels said postgame. “I think that the reaction of our supporters, and getting to get to know Raider Nation the way that they are today, is just different. … It’s the most enjoyable atmosphere at a preseason game I’ve been a part of. It’s not hard to affirm that.
“I cannot wait to get another chance to play here, and then go into the season, and have the chance to play with real players in regular season games.”
The win for the Raiders was a result of the efficiency of the offense. The team racked up 300 yards of total offense and was able to score more than eight minutes of possession than the Vikings.
The team received two impressive performances by the quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens who are currently battling for the job of backup quarterback. Stidham finished the game with a total of 68 passing yards and a touchdown rushing and Mullens was able to complete nearly eighty percent of the passes he attempted, with a score of 94 yards and a touchdown.
“I believe that all the quarterbacks performed well. I was really impressed,” said McDaniels. “Jarrett was the leader on two scoring drives, and the next day, Nick was in and did the exact same thing. … I’m convinced that Jarrett has definitely grown as he has aged. One thing that keeps popping up and that I am very happy about is the fact that there are no turnovers. Before we can be successful it is necessary to know how to avoid losing.”
“All the quarterbacks were there and, in general, took responsibility for the ball, made sound choices,” continued McDaniels. “Sometimes the best decisions are ones that aren’t evident from the field immediately that they made the right choice, such as throwing the ball away, or sometimes getting a sack.”
The quarterbacks and the U.S. Department of Football Association Chase Garbers included have established a strong bond with one another within the locker. There’s a healthy amount of rivalry in the locker room “we’re striving to get better every day,” Stidham said.
As all the Training Camp reps are being taken by the reps, their confidence in the playbook is growing.
“I feel great,” Mullens said following the win. “Every every day’s a fresh day, and I’m just trying to get the most I can. That’s the most important thing. Learn and create so that I can be successful.”
One of the rookies who was a highlight was Raiders seventh-round pick, Brittain Brown. Brown was the leading rusher in the game with 14 plays, 54 yards, and a visit to the goal line.
Even though it’s an unofficial game scoring a touchdown in the NFL is a feat that any rookie running back is able to feel proud about.
“It’s amazing. It’s like a dream that’s come true,” said Brown. “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. It was nice to be in the stadium along with all my friends and savoring the moment in the finals.”
This team is expected to have plenty of footage to go through this week, as they prepare for a trip south to South Florida to face the Miami Dolphins on Saturday.