Raiders’ quick slants: Saints edition

Ameer Abdullah, defense powers Las Vegas to 25-10 victory in New Orleans

Not even mechanical issues that lead to a plane change and a delayed departure could stop the Silver & Black Express from stream rolling to a win over a team that’s ravaged by injuries and somehow worse.

While the early goings proved precarious as the Las Vegas Raiders fell behind 7-3 to the New Orleans Saints, powered by a rejuvenated effort by veteran tailback Ameer Abdullah, an efficient outing by quarterback Aidan O’Connell, and an opportunistic defense, the Raiders (4-12 overall) rolled to a 25-10 victory for back-to-back wins recent weeks.

The 31-year-old Abdullah galloped for 115 yards on 20 carries (a robust 5.8 yards per carry average) to go along with three catches for 32 yards — unbelievably his first career game going over the 100-yard mark — while O’Connell threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns to power Las Vegas’ offense. Defensively, cornerback Jack Jones and safety Thomas Harper each intercepted a pass and five different Raiders got into the sack column as the Silver & Black overwhelmed the sinking Saints (5-11).

Las Vegas went with the “delayed, but not denied” mantra in the postgame locker room, which is apt. While many will scoff at the scene of jubilation for a lowly Raiders squad celebrating it’s fourth win of the season, the team equally derides the notion of stacking defeats to improve draft position.

Las Vegas had been in the running for the No. 1 overall pick after riding a 10-game losing skid but with back-to-back wins, the Tankathon 2025 NFL Draft order — which some in Raider Nation had been salivating over after every defeat and bickered over strength of schedule — now has the Raiders with the eighth overall selection.

“It just speaks to how much we care about each other,” Abdullah said in the postgame locker room media scrum. “We’re not playing for anything, other than for each other. That’s enough for guys to put it on the line and execute at the highest level. I couldn’t be more proud of how these guys came out today.”

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce couldn’t have been more proud of his veteran tailback — one that was passed over during the season before injuries at the position group gave Abdullah his shot — churning out much-needed yards.

“He found the fountain of youth,” Pierce said during the postgame press conference. “It’s kind of amazing … the dude is 31 years old and we threw him in the fire late in the season. Hats off to him. He is really resilient and a true pro. Great special teams player and returner who gets a chance to start today, and he made the most of it.”

Abdullah’s resolve certainly bled into other parts of the Raiders locker room as throttled the Saints in the second half by blanking them and scoring 12 more points to leave New Orleans with a W.

“We might be delayed, but we’re not going to be denied,” Pierce told his Raiders in the locker room celebration.

Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers etched his name in the NFL record books:

—With a running tally of 108 receptions for 1,144 yards, Bowers has surpassed Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka to set the new mark for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a single season. Bowers also passed Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (105 receptions in 2023) for most receptions in a single season by a rookie. When the 2024 regular season comes to a close, Bowers’ accolades will be as long as the yards after catch (YAC) he’s compiled as a rookie.

—Kicker Daniel Carlson was money going 4-for-4 when his name was called after Raiders drives stalled. He made field goals from 31, 39, 54, and 25 yards out in team’s win and notched his 10th career game with four-plus made field goals which is fifth most in the NFL since 2018.

—His special teams tag team partner, punter AJ Cole III, was equally effective booting the ball four times for 198 yards (49.5 average per punt). Cole had a season-long booming 71-yard punt and had two of his boots downed inside the Saints 20-yard-line.

—Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers finished with five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Fellow wideout Tre Tucker caught the other touchdown and finished with two receptions for 24 yards.

—Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler started off well when he found tight end Foster Moreau (a former Raider) for a 30-yard touchdown strike. But Las Vegas dialed up blitz as the game went on and he finished 20 of 36 for 218 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions, and was sacked three times.

—Middle linebacker Robert Spillane and defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson paced Las Vegas’ defense with a sack, respectively. Defensive end Tyree Wilson, defensive tackle Adam Butler, Harper, and defensive end Andre Carter II each racked up half a sack.

Quote of Note:

“Usually when you’re 2-12, you’re thinking about Cancun. But we came in every day and worked, and that’s a credit to AP (head coach Antonio Pierce). It’s been a hell of a year, but all we wanted to do was win and to get these two feels great. We needed it.” —Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker on the team’s resolve.