Raiders open preseason with victory over 49ers
For one afternoon, everything the Raiders have stressed since spring came to fruition in a 34-7 win over the 49ers in the preseason opener Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
The final score probably was forgotten the moment the Raiders settled in on their early evening flight to Southern California, where a week of practices against the Rams await.
The manner in which it was achieved is a different story. It reflected an urgency and importance the Raiders have placed on a core group of dynamics they believe essential to long-term success.
It’s a message that players seem to be heeding.
“I think they understand the way we feel about playing and how we see winning,” coach Josh McDaniels said.
A monthslong emphasis on getting pressure on the quarterback resulted in four sacks and five quarterback hits. The priority on getting their hands on the ball at the second and third levels of the defense helped create two takeaways in the red zone and three pass breakups. The attention put on efficiency and poise meant a manageable three penalties and cashing all four trips to the red zone into touchdowns.
“Good complementary football,” McDaniels said. “Anytime you can turn it over, then turn those turnovers into points and be on a short field, that’s helpful.”
But it has been in short supply for the Raiders for far too long. Hence the emphasis McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler have placed on those dynamics since they took over in 2021, and which they ramped up during an offseason of major change after the Raiders struggled to a 6-11 record last season in which they forced the fewest turnovers in the NFL.
It’s been ringing in the Raiders’ ears for months now.
“Collectively, as a whole, as a unit, as a team, we feel like we need to get more hands on the ball,” cornerback Tyler Hall said. “Get the ball back to the offense.”
In Sunday’s case, that meant to rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who continued his impressive training camp by completing 15 of 18 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown and a 117.8 quarterback rating. O’Connell, a fourth-round pick from Purdue, showed poise beyond his experience while overseeing four scoring drives, three of which ended in touchdowns, to help the Raiders build a 24-7 third-quarter lead.
Raiders linebacker Curtis Bolton set up the third touchdown when he punched the ball out of the hands of 49ers tight end Cameron Latu and Azizi Hearn recovered at the 49ers’ 14-yard-line.
“Throughout every practice, literally every practice, there’s a certain portion of practice focused on just getting the ball,” Bolton said. “We realized that last year we didn’t take it away enough, and it has been a major emphasis going into the year. Every practice, it’s something new in terms of getting the ball. Today showed the emphasis we’re making on that.”
The Raiders used two days of joint practices against the 49ers last week to get their starters extensive work. That meant an off day Sunday for most of them, including starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and, somewhat surprisingly, backup Brian Hoyer. That left most of the game in the hands of O’Connell, who played three quarters, and a slew of rookies and young players who are being counted on as starters and role players.
“It was a lot of fun to be out there,” said O’Connell, who guided the Raiders to a touchdown on their opening drive and another in a two-minute drill at the end of the first half.
The Raiders will make a concerted effort to get O’Connell as much work as possible during the preseason to get him ready to be the backup to Garoppolo at some point. For now, that is Hoyer’s role, but sooner rather than later the Raiders hope O’Connell leapfrogs him.
Sunday’s extensive playing time was a step along that path.
“He generally handled himself well for the first opportunity,” McDaniels said. “He’s going to learn a lot from some of the things that we might have been able to do a little better that would have helped us maybe sustain a few more drives. But that’s why he was in there.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
