Raiders vs. Saints Game Recap

What went down in week 17.

In what would be a defensive collapse of the Saints, the Las Vegas Raiders took the W in their visit to New Orleans.

FIRST QUARTER

Las Vegas would receive the ball to start out the game, and their first drive would take over nine minutes off the clock. Once again, the Saints’ run defense proved to be their kryptonite, allowing 35 rushing yards from running back Ameer Abdullah during the 55-yard drive. Thankfully, the defense would show some spine and stuff the Raiders in the red zone. Cam Jordan, along with a great run stop, would also sack Vegas quarterback Aiden O’Connell in the goal line stand.

From 31 yards out, Raiders’ kicker Daniel Carlson would send it through the uprights for three points.

Initially, the first drive for the New Orleans offense started out well, with a 28-yard scramble by QB Spencer Rattler. Newly signed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire would follow it up with a four-yard run. Then, in what was a great throw by Rattler, tight end Juwan Johnson dropped a deep ball on second down. Next, Kendre Miller made his debut for the afternoon with a run that resulted in no gain. The Saints would try to go for it on 4th & 6, but a false start by left guard Oli Udoh brought Matthew Hayball onto the field.

The next offensive drive for the Raiders would start out with penalties on both teams, putting the Vegas offense at 1st & 13. O’Connell would quickly pass it to WR Jakobi Myers for a four-yard gain. Alexander Mattinson, a running back for Las Vegas, would then get a short two-yard run. Following that, O’Connell connected with Mattinson for a six-yard catch. Raiders head coach Antonio Peirce threw the challenge flag, believing that Mattinson reached the line to gain, but the original ruling was upheld.

That would be the last full drive of the first quarter.

In the dying minute of the first quarter, Rattler and the offense would return to the field. Miller began the drive with a four-yard run before catching a pass from Rattler for a gain of 16 yards on the quarter’s final play.

SECOND QUARTER

Then the Saints blew the door off its hinges. On the very first play of the second quarter, Miller would receive the ball on a toss from Rattler, then toss it back to Rattler, who would then throw it to former Raider and current Saints TE Foster Moreau.

The offense of Las Vegas did not show any signs of slowing, and Ameer Abdullah was again a feature. He would catch a seven-yard pass from O’Connell before running for two yards, who would then throw a ball to WR Terrace Marshall Jr. for a gain of 28 yards. Abdullah would then once again pull off a good run, this time for 11 yards. He would be stuffed at the line on his next play. Raiders WR Tre Tucker would then get a rush of five yards before failing to catch a pass from O’Connell. Vegas would then make a field goal from 39 yards out.

New Orleans, next time on offense, was mediocre at best. Initially going backwards due to a holding penalty, the first real positive play was on 2nd & 18, where Juwan Johnson would catch a 25-yard pass from Rattler. Newly signed RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire would see some action, getting 13 yards and a fresh set of downs on two rushes. Miller would then be tackled for a loss of one yard on first down, and on second down, WR Cedrick Wilson would be flagged for illegal shift, sending them another 10 yards back. Wilson would then earn some of the yardage back on a six-yard catch, making it 3rd & 10.

Another connection between Rattler and Johnson, one for 39 yards, would be nullified due to another holding penalty. The offense would not be able to convert the ensuing 3rd & 20 and punt the ball shortly thereafter.

Matthew Hayball’s punt would pin the Raiders at their own three-yard line. Unfortunately, the Saints’ defense fell short and allowed them to march 97 yards down the field for the touchdown. In an 11-play drive that took nearly three and a half minutes off the clock, the score would come on a short pass from O’Connell to Myers.

At this point, Spencer Rattler and the offense had just under a minute in the half to respond. And thanks to chunk throw after chunk throw, Rattler would bring them there. Following an illegal formation penalty, Rattler would get one short pass off before throwing it incomplete on second down. So, with three seconds left in the half, kicker Blake Grupe would send it through the uprights from 34 yards out.

THIRD QUARTER

At the start of the second half, New Orleans would receive the ball, but unfortunately, they couldn’t replicate the momentum they had at the end of the first half. The offense would earn a fresh set of downs on a 10-yard pass from Rattler to Johnson, but that would be the only bit of success. Because after that completion, a much shorter one and two incompletions would follow, leading to another Hayball punt.

The Raiders next drive would end in a field goal, with no particular play standing out. Ameer Abdullah would get some runs off, but O’Connell also threw through the Saints secondary. Thankfully, the defense was able to get the combo of an incomplete pass followed by a short run, forcing Vegas to send Danield Carlson out, who would make it from 54 yards.

Going three-and-out, the next Saints drive would last less than a minute. An eight-yard run by RB Jamaal Williams would be the drive’s only positive play before the punt. But thankfully, the next drive for the Raiders would also see them go three-and-out.

On the last full drive of the third quarter, the Saints would only go backwards. After the first two incomplete passes, Rattler would be sacked for a loss of 10.

Abdullah would start out the next drive for the Raiders with two runs. O’Connell would then throw an 11-yard pass to TE Brock Bowers on second down, before handing it off to Alexander Mattinson on back-to-back plays. Bowers would get another catch, this time for 25 yards, before Abdullah would run out the clock in the third.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth quarter did not start well for Vegas. It seemingly took away all the momentum they had just a few minutes before in the third. Because they would only be able to pull off a short run and an incomplete pass before their field goal attempt, which would be good from 25 yards out.

The next Saints drive had some promise but did not end well at all. After marching their way down the field with some run plays, a 16-yard completion from Rattler to Wilson would be taken back due to another holding penalty. Unfortunately, Rattler would then follow that up with an interception to cornerback Jack Jones.

Safe to say that the Raiders took advantage of the field position. Although the Saints defense did make them work for it. It took them seven plays, but Vegas would eventually score on an 18-yard pass from O’Connell to WR Tre Tucker.

The New Orleans offense would not be able to improve on the interception and wasn’t even able to stay on the field for longer than 50 seconds. Rattler would be sacked on first down, then throw two incompletions before the Saints sent out Matthew Hayball once again.

Thankfully, the Saints defense seemed to have woken up at this point. because they actually forced the Raiders to punt for once. They did allow a 14-yard pass, but after that, they were locked down. Stopping the run game as well, Vegas would punt after six plays.

Saints would punt on their next drive. After completing two passes for four yards, Rattler would be sacked again for a loss of 10, causing another appearance by Hayball.

The Saints defense remained vigilant. Only allowing six rushing yards, they would force the Raiders to punt after just three plays.

The New Orleans offense was able to ride the small wave of momentum, but only for a little bit. Raiders would be slapped with a roughing the passer penalty on first down, which gave the offense a free 15 yards. Rattler would demonstrate exceptional play, skillfully throwing and running the ball down the field. That is, until an offensive pass interference made it 3rd & 12. Because on the play after the penalty, he would throw it directly to cornerback Thomas Harper. Las Vegas would then kneel the ball twice before the end of the game.

Next week’s 2024 season finale for the Saints is in Tampa Bay, in a noon matchup against the Buccaneers.