New Orleans Saints (5-11) – Las Vegas Raiders (4-12): 10-25
With less than 80 rushing yards per game since the start of the year, the Raiders were the dunces of the NFL in the field. The Saints let them correct the situation. In 20 carries, Ameer Abdullah gained 115 yards. Alexander Mattison (10 carries, 32 yards) also helped. And in the end, Vegas accumulated 158 lengths on the ground.
The runners did not score, but they allowed Aidan O'connell (20/35, 242 yards, 2 TDs) to have a good base to work from. Brock Bowers (7 rec, 77 yards) did most of the work in the air, breaking the record for the number of receptions in a season for a rookie. And it was Jakobi Meyers (5 rec, 61 yards, 1 TD) and Tre Tucker (2 rec, 24 yards, 1 TD) who scored the touchdowns.
For the Saints, a half before nothingness
Spencer Rattler and his attack had started relatively respectably, with a rather creative 30-yard touchdown sent to Foster Moreau on the second possession. Then a field goal just before the break. Enough to join the locker room in contact, with a 13-10 advantage for the Raiders at the break.
But upon returning from the locker room, the Raiders defense completely neutralized the New Orleans quarterback. Three punts, an interception, two new punts and a final interception for the road. Rattler went through an ordeal.
It must be said that he was not helped by a completely absent ground game. It was also the Saints quarterback who finished as the best runner on his team with 46 yards gained in 3 races. Forced to duck after the break, Rattler didn't have much chance of getting out, especially under good pressure from the Raiders (4 sacks, 7 QB hits).
If this second victory in a row will surely be good for morale, the Raiders are moving a little further away from the top of the Draft.
