Raiders find winning formula again in topping Saints

Dec 30, 2024, 7:31 AM | Updated: 7:40 am

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 29: Kendre Miller #25 of the New Orleans Saints carries the ball ...

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

Aidan O’Connell threw two touchdown passes, Daniel Carlson kicked four field goals, Ameer Abdullah had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and the visiting Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 25-10 on Sunday afternoon.

Abdullah, playing in the 141st game of his 10-year career, finished with 115 yards on 20 carries. O’Connell completed 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards as the Raiders (4-12) won their second straight after a 10-game losing streak.

Brock Bowers added seven receptions for 77 yards, giving him 1,144 receiving yards, which broke the NFL single-season record for a rookie tight end, set by Mike Ditka with 1,076 yards in 14 games in 1961.

We’ll take that 😏#LVvsNO | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/sLEcS9poxG

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 29, 2024

Bowers also eclipsed the single-season rookie reception record with his 106th catch, besting Puka Nacua’s 105 grabs for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.

Rookie Spencer Rattler passed for 218 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and fell to 0-5 as the starter for the Saints (5-11).

Las Vegas’s first possession of the third quarter resulted in Carlson’s 54-yard field goal, which increased its lead to 16-10 at the end of the period.

Carlson’s 25-yard field goal pushed the lead to 19-10 on the third play of the fourth quarter. O’Connell added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker to complete the scoring.

The Raiders received the opening kickoff and held the ball for 17 plays before stalling. Carlson kicked a 31-yard field goal and the 3-0 lead held up through the end of the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Rattler threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau and the Saints took a 7-3 lead with their first points in the first half in three games.

The ensuing possession ended with Carlson kicking a 39-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 7-6.

O’Connell threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers to give Las Vegas a 13-7 lead with 57 seconds left in the second quarter. Rattler completed 5 of 7 for 54 yards in driving New Orleans to Blake Grupe’s 34-yard field goal as time expired that trimmed the lead to 13-10 at halftime.

–Field Level Media