Raiders at Rams: What we learned from Raiders’ 34-17 victory in Preseason Week 2
In Week 2 of the 2023 preseason, the Los Angeles Rams played the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night. The Silver and Black, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-17 in their previous game, were hoping to capitalize on their second straight NFC West foe.
The result was another impressive win for the Raiders, who have now scored 68 points in the preseason as a result of their offense’s performance. The Rams, who have now lost by the same exact score to two AFC West opponents in a row, were easily defeated by the Packers by a score of 34-17.
Here, we examine some of the things we discovered on Saturday night.
With Jimmy G; The Raiders have a special offense
On Saturday night, Jimmy Garoppolo appeared for the first time in a preseason game while wearing a Raiders uniform, and he did not disappoint. Although it was only one drive, Garoppolo’s 4-of-4 throwing for 39 yards in his Raiders debut showed that he was in complete control of the Raiders’ attack.
Because of his friendship with Josh McDaniels, Garoppolo was recruited by the Raiders, and I think that will greatly improve their offensive consistency compared to last season. While he may not be a stat compiler, he has a great number in the only statistic that matters. He has won many games in the NFL, compiling a 40-17 record in games he has started. Wins.
The Raiders are heading into the 2023 season much better than expected
I was very impressed with what the Raiders were able to achieve on the defensive side of the ball for the second straight preseason game. They appear quick and deep at all three levels; after so many seasons of poor defensive play, might this be the year they finally turn things around and at least be competent?
Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao had a fantastic summer, and his 50-yard touchdown return against the Rams on Saturday may have secured his spot on the squad. Amari Burney, a rookie linebacker, has the makings of a significant contributor for the Raiders, which is crucial given their lack of depth at the position.
The defensive line was finally able to push back, which made things very hard for the starting quarterback, Stetson Bennett, who was making his first game. This defense may be the best they’ve had in a long time, and we got to see a lot of the first-team players, like Marcus Peters and Robert Spillane, for the first time in Silver and Black on Saturday.
Aidan O’Connell should be the No. 2 quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo will be the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, and he will either be backed up by veteran Brian Hoyer or youngster Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell has played well in both of the team’s preseason games and, after last night’s performance, should be the No. 2 quarterback on the roster.
There is unquestionably a connection between Hoyer and Josh McDaniels because both Hoyer and Garoppolo played for him in New England. In addition, McDaniels believes he can rely on him in the event that Garoppolo sustains an injury. However, after just two games, O’Connell appears to be the stronger choice for 2023 and the team’s long-term future.
O’Connell made a solid impression in his NFL debut against the 49ers, and on Saturday night, he completed 11 of his 18 passes for touchdowns, connecting with Cam Sims and Kristian Wilkerson. If he keeps developing and adjusting to the NFL game the way he has the past two times, he might end up being one of the steals of the 2023 NFL Draft and a wager worth taking to NFL playoff betting to punt on.
