Raiders report: ‘Awesome’ rookie sets NFL record in win over Ravens

BALTIMORE — So much for the prevailing wisdom that it’s difficult for tight ends to make a smooth transition from college to the NFL.

Brock Bowers is making it look easy.

The Raiders rookie had nine catches on nine targets for 98 yards in Sunday’s 26-23 road win over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

The 13th overall pick in April’s draft has 15 receptions through two games, the most by any first-year tight end in NFL history.

“I was out there doing my job every play, and I guess I ended up open a few times,” Bowers said. “Having all those guys out there who can make plays just makes my job so much easier.”

Bowers, 21, isn’t one to sing his own praises. But his teammates have no problem gushing about him.

“He’s awesome, man,” quarterback Gardner Minshew said. “He’s so good (and has) a great feel in zone (coverage). He can get open in man, too. I had to take a shot to him on third down, and he goes and makes a huge play for us. Man, I think he is going to be really special. We have to continue to develop chemistry there.”

Bowers and wide receiver Davante Adams, who had nine catches for 110 yards in the victory, combined to take over down the stretch against the Ravens.

They’re the first pair of Raiders teammates to have at least nine catches and 90 yards in the same game.

Bowers was just happy to pick up his first win as a pro.

“It feels good,” he said. “It’s hard to win in the NFL, so you have to celebrate them all.”

Adams bounces back

Adams was clearly frustrated by a pair of drops in Sunday’s game, including one when he was wide open in the middle of the field.

He was at least willing to move on afterwards after playing a vital role in the victory. In addition to his nine catches, he drew a pass interference penalty that set up his game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t care if it’s my fault or the quarterback’s fault or a bird hit it,” Adams said. “It doesn’t matter to me. If I can’t make the play, it’s going to piss me off. We left a couple of them out there, but we were able to win, so we’re not going to cry about it until we watch the film. Then I’ll cry a little bit watching those two I wanted back.”

Adams said the win was a major boost to the locker room.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to win the Super Bowl, but I think it means a lot in this locker room for us to dig deep after not starting the way we wanted in the first game or the first half today,” he said. “So to be able to figure it out means a lot to us. It doesn’t have to mean anything to anyone outside of here. We don’t really care about that.”

Carlson stays cool

Kicker Daniel Carlson made all four of his field-goal attempts, including the game winner with 31 seconds remaining.

The 29-year-old is one of the NFL’s most accurate kickers and has made plenty of clutch kicks in his career. He still said he was feeling nervous as he trotted out for a 38-yard attempt with the outcome of the game in the balance.

“I get more comfortable the longer I’ve been in this,” Carlson said. “At the end of the day, everybody gets nervous. But that’s part of the fun. If it was boring, it wouldn’t be any fun. … It’s exciting and you embrace it. As a football player, you just want to help the team win, so that’s exciting.”

Souvenir

Linebacker Robert Spillane left the locker room with a football tucked under his arm Sunday, largely thanks to the quick thinking of teammate Jack Jones.

Spillane made a pivotal interception in the third quarter. He then threw the ball in the air in celebration and almost lost it.

“Jack Jones saved it for me,” Spillane said. “I didn’t know where it had gone.”

Spillane, in addition to his pick, had a key pass deflection on a third down to force a Ravens punt in the fourth quarter. The Raiders tied the game the following possession.

Spillane said the stop came after he learned from an earlier mistake.

“Two plays earlier in the game, I was kind of rushing and the ball went right over my head,” he said. “So this time I kept my eyes off the coverage and was able to track the ball.”

‘Miracle’

A member of the sideline crew collapsed during the first half of Sunday’s game. The official received CPR before being taken off the field on a stretcher. He was taken to a local hospital, according to the Ravens.

The game was delayed for just under 10 minutes as medical personnel attended to the official, who was part of the sideline chain gang crew. He was alert and responsive as he was being taken off the field.

“I’m just grateful that he was revived,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “For the EMS people, they were on the spot. They jumped right into action. They were heroes out there today.

“It was a miracle.”

Harbaugh said the man works on the Ravens’ sideline each home game and the team is familiar with him.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.