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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
It’s only NFL preseason games. And some players on the SoFi Stadium field will not be on their Las Vegas Raiders and Lo Angeles Rams on their rosters when the 17-game regular season starts.
And the Raiders won only six of 17 games in 2022 after winning all four of their preseason games last year.
But in 2023, it feels different for the Raiders. They won they second consecutive exhibition game, this time in LA Saturday night.
And for a second straight week, Jimmy Garoppolo’s backup, rookie Aiden O’Connell, was impressive.
Garoppolo, who knows a thing or two about playing the Rams as a former 49ers quarterback, led the Raiders on a 68-yard opening drive touchdown score.
After a Rams pick six off a weak pass by Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer, the Raiders scored on their own pick six. And two Daniel Carlson field goals gave the Raiders a 20-10 lead at the half.
O’Connell was superb again tonight, showing the poise and precision he displayed against the 49ers Sunday. The first-year QB from Purdue completed 11 of 18 passes for 163 yards.
His two TD tosses were terrific passes to Kristian Wilkerson and Cameron Sims, while Garoppolo, Hoyer and O’Connell completed passes to 13 different Raiders receivers.
The Raiders are off to Dallas to complete their preseason next week.
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Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan was on TV during the broadcast of the Rams-Raiders game letting fans know they can support the Hawaii wildfire relief efforts by buying a T-shirt for $40. Las Vegas has long been called the nine island.
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And the Raiders were also advertising during the game TV broadcast their new club suites created from Level 100 space inside the Twitch Lounge and Modelo Cantina Club.