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By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
It felt like this game would never end at Overtime Stadium in Las Vegas Sunday. But the Raiders, after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, gave their fans another entertaining game with an exhilarating 31-28 win over the Miami Dolphins in the extra period.
Old reliable, Raiders placekicker Daniel Carlson, booted two field goals in overtime and the Raiders moved to 3-0 with wins over 2020 playoff teams Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Miami to open the 2021. It’s off to Los Angeles to play the Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 4.
Today’s OT win over the Dolphins was especially sweet when you consider the Raiders lost a painful decision, 26-25, to Miami on Dec. 26 in the final home game of the Raiders’ inaugural season in Las Vegas.
“The Raiders fans made a big difference today . . . I’m really proud of the character of our team,” coach Jon Gruden said after the Raiders missed an extra point and Miami converted a fourth-and-20 to extend the game in overtime.
In fact, fans were standing most of the fourth quarter and in overtime.
They were among the announced attendance of 59,311.
Perhaps, the Las Vegas Raiders were hearing too much about their fast 2-0 start after wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
The Miami Dolphins jumped out to a 14-2 lead after the first quarter after Raiders quarterback Derek Carr threw a pick 6 and Miami scored a touchdown on a running play after the Raiders were stuffed on fourth an one on their own 34-yard line.
A mishandled snap by the Raiders led to an intentional grounding penalty on Carr and the Raiders looked disjointed.
But a superb punt by the Raiders’ AJ Cole pinned Miami back at its own one-yard line. Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. made a solid tackle on a Dolphins receiver in the end zone and Las Vegas was on the board near the end of the first quarter.
After 15 minutes: Miami 14 Las Vegas 2
“Maybe my pregame speeches aren’t very good,” Gruden after the game.
The sports universe has Las Vegas at its hub today.
We’re at Allegiant Stadium for the Las Vegas Raiders hosting the Miami Dolphins at 1 PM.
Three hours later, the big boys of NASCAR will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400.
And at 7 PM, the NHL Vegas Golden Knights skate against rival San Jose Sharks in a preseason game at T-Mobile Arena.
And even Las Vegas-based UFC came to the party this weekend, with UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena.
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In the second quarter, the Raiders climbed back into this game.
Their placekicker, Daniel Carlson, showed he’s money all season long by booming a 50-yarder.
And Carr’s short one-yard toss to fullback Alec Ingold polished off the 95-yard scoring march and the PAT by Carlson cut the Dolphins lead to 14-12 with 1:56 to go in the second quarter.
A late second quarter drive by Miami ended with kicker Jason Sander doinking the upright on a FG attempt and the Raiders went into the half down down by two points. The Raiders outgained Miami in yards, 218-131, in the first half.
Halftime: Miami 14 Las Vegas 12
The Raiders also welcomed fans who need to get a COVID-19 vaccination shot or clear up issues with their app that has to show proof of vaccination in order for fans to get inside Allegiant Stadium. Once inside, the fans are allowed to not wear masks with the exception of those fans who are partially inoculated.
Meanwhile, people tailgated in the parking lots outside the Raiders stadium.
After the game, Gruden was asked about the two overtime games. “These fans are going nuts, aren’t they?”
Gruden responded: “So are my parents (laughing). Yeah, the fans are great, they didn’t leave us. I might have left when it was 14-0 after the way we started that game, but they didn’t leave us. They make a big difference for the guys on the sidelines and it makes it hard on the opposition now. It makes it hard on the opposing team to execute, it’s a loud place and there were too many doggone Dolphins fans there. I noticed that today. But you’ve got to give Miami credit, it’s a storied franchise. They travel well, and they had their faithful here as well.”
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The Raiders marched 72 yards on nine plays mid-way through the third quarter and scored on a Carr to Hunter Renfrow pass. After Miami scored the first 14 points of the game, the Raiders responded with 19 straight points to grab a 19-14 lead with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders have settled in after looking sluggish and error-prone in the first quarter.
Peyton Barber also began ripping off some leg-churning runs as the Raiders showed they could mix in some runs to complement the throws by Carr, who entered the game with more than 800 yards of passing, best in the NFL.
Carr completed a nice pass to tight end Darren Waller to extend a drive deep into Miami territory and the Raiders took a 19-14 lead into the fourth quarter. Total yards after three periods, Las Vegas 362 Miami 157.
After three quarters: Las Vegas 19 Miami 14
I don’t apologize for winning these games, no matter how we won them. Had we made an extra point, maybe we’re not out there so long. Had we not thrown the interception that got run back, perhaps it’s a better deal. When you’re down 14-0 and score 25 unanswered [points] in the NFL, against a team like that, something’s going right. We got to finish better. There were some catastrophic plays today and you can write them and list them. We’re lucky to overcome them. — Raiders coach Jon Gruden
The Raiders, UFC and NASCAR events attract lots of tourists and visitors buying hotel rooms, which mean hotel room tax revenues that will help pay off the public’s debt to help build Allegiant Stadium. Southern Nevada contributed $750 million to the construction budget of the 65,000-seat domed stadium on 62 acres on the west side of Interstate 15 across from Mandalay Bay.
The Raiders tabbed hotel developer Steve Wynn to light the Al Davis Memorial Torch. While Wynn built some of the Strip’s iconic hotels like the Bellagio and the Mirage, he did resign amid controversy and sexual harassment allegations from more than a dozen women only a few years ago. The Raiders have made major inroads in the Las Vegas community since starting their season here in 2020, but picking Wynn to light the torch in the stadium was met with mixed reactions in Las Vegas.
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While Wynn may have not been the best choice to light the torch, the live music complete with horns and violins is a great idea. They musicians set up shop near section 201 not too far from the Al Davis Torch.