The New Orleans Saints at last played their home opener when they hosted the Las Vegas Raiders in the late window on Sunday afternoon. Here’s a look back at all that went down in the Caesars Superdome.
First Quarter
The hosts received the opening kickoff but went three-and-out.
The Raiders, meanwhile, found instant momentum as Kirk Cousins completed his first four throws for 53 yards, including three receptions by tight end Brock Bowers who was suiting up for the first time this season.
But after an offensive holding
and a sack by Chase Young, the defense was able to hold Vegas to a field goal attempt. Matt Gay converted from 41 yards.
The Saints faced another quick three-and-out as they began their ensuing series, but a huge 3rd down scramble from Tyler Shough for 36 yards kicked the offense into life.
Travis Etienne Jr had some work on the ground, and Shough found Devaughn Vele and Chris Olave for double-digit gains as the Saints entered the red zone.
CJ Donaldson would then run for 5 yards to set up a 2-yard touchdown throw from Shough to Juwan Johnson.
Daniel Carlson’s extra point was blocked by his former team, so the score remained 6-3.
Second Quarter
The Raiders began their next drive at the 40 after the kickoff fell short of the landing zone. They drove past midfield with a run from Mike Washington, before Cousins found Michael Mayer for 18 yards.
An offside penalty helped the defensive effort as the Saints were able to force another field goal attempt, which Gay converted from 37 yards to tie the game at 6-6.
New Orleans then went three-and-out, and punted to the visitors who began the ensuing possession at midfield.
The Raiders took full advantage, with Cousins continuing to find Mayer and Bowers as they entered the red zone.
The Saints thought they’d done enough to keep Vegas out of the end zone again, but a roughing the passer penalty against Danny Stutsman for what looked like a perfect hit on the quarterback gave the Raiders 1st-and-goal.
Cousins found Mayer for the 3-yard score, and the visitors took a 13-6 lead.
Etienne had a few short gains on the ground to begin the Saints’ next possession, before Shough found Olave twice in a row for a total of 29 yards. He then found his tight ends Noah Fant and Johnson, before another short run from Etienne put the ball at the 3-yard line.
Shough found Fant in the end zone for the score, and Carlson’s extra point levelled the game at 13-13.
Cousins ran a successful two-minute drill before the half, helped by another pair of big gains through Bowers. A 25-yard field goal from Gay gave Vegas a 16-13 lead as time expired.
Third Quarter
The Raiders went three-and-out to begin the second half.
Shough continued to have success moving the football as he returned to the field, with passes to Vele and Etienne alongside runs from Alvin Kamara moving the black and gold past midfield.
Shough continued to sling it, connecting with Johnson, Vele, and Olave to move the hosts to the 1-yard line.
It was Johnson again who caught another touchdown pass, continuing the game of the tight-ends.
Trailing 20-16, the Raiders return-man Dylan Laube then fumbled the kickoff return. The Saints recovered, and took instant advantage.
Etienne broke out a 16-yard run before Shough threw to Fant for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and just like that the hosts were up 27-16.
But the Raiders did well to respond, as Bowers continued his dominant display with a 20-yard catch to move the drive past midfield. Before long, Washington ran in a 36-yard touchdown to cut into the lead.
After an unsuccessful 2-point conversion attempt, the score remained 27-22.
The team exchanged quick punts after that, before an 11-yard pass from Shough to Olave on 3rd down extended the ensuing series for the black and gold and put them into Vegas territory.
Fourth Quarter
Shough converted another 3rd down to Olave a few plays later.
But with the Saints on the edge of field goal range, Shough was sacked and stripped by Malcolm Koonce as he intended to throw, in the same fashion that Chase Young got to Jared Goff in Week 1. The fumble was recovered by the defense, but this time, the ruling on the field stood and Vegas would take over.
Cousins found Ashton Jeanty for 22 yards to begin the drive, before connecting with Tre Tucker for 15 yards a few plays later.
Cody White would catch the short touchdown to restore the lead for the visitors. After another failed 2-point conversion, they led just 28-27.
But the Saints’ woes would then continue as Shough’s pass for Bryce Lance was picked off by Hezekiah Masses. Masses then fumbled himself, but the Raiders fell on it again and had 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line.
The Saints stopped Jeanty twice before on 3rd down Cousins connected with Bowers in the end zone, and the Raiders went up 35-27.
Still just a one-score game, the Saints did promptly enter the red zone helped by runs from Kamara and a 22-yard throw to Johnson.
But Shough fumbled as he was sacked again, with Maxx Crosby forcing the ball out.
The defense forced the Raiders into a quick punt to keep hopes alive. But in the two-minute drill, Johnson fumbled after a catch near midfield as turnovers continued to mount for the black and gold.
The Raiders jumped on it, and knelt out the clock from there to secure a 35-27 win.
The Saints’ focus now turns to Monday Night Football when they host the Atlanta Falcons in a week’s time.
