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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The Ravens and their stout defense were leading the identity-less Raiders, 23-13, in the fourth quarter. It did not look good for the Las Vegas team, facing a potential 0-2 start for the 2024 season.
Then, the Raiders turned their young season around and may have discovered their identity in the process.
Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II was zinging darts to bigtime receiver Davante Adams and rookie first-rounder Brock Bowers and the Raiders ripped off 13 straight points in the final quarter to deliver a major upset in Baltimore with a spectacular 26-23 win over the powerful Ravens squad.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce praised his team’s persistence and said all three phases showed up in the fourth quarter. But he noted the rushing game is still weak.
When the Ravens’ final play proved futile on a Lavar Jackson last-ditch run and the Raiders secured their first win of the campaign, Minshew hugged backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell and the normally stoic Adams sported a giant smile.
“First half was ugly. Last week was ugly. We’re continuing to get better. We’re gonna find a way,” Minshew said after the game. “We have the right people to do it.”
Adams gave a shoutout to Raider Nation after the comeback victory.
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As Minshew mentiond, things were not pretty for the Raiders in the first half.
A robust Ravens defense held the Raiders to a mere 43 yards of offense, including four yards running, in the first 30 minutes.
A Derrick Henry stiff arm pushed a Raiders defender out of the way and Henry had a big game for the Ravens.
And a Jackson-led drive after the second half kickoff delivered the game’s first touchdown as the Ravens took a 16-6 lead early in the third quarter.
The Raiders got within three points late in the third quarter thanks to a Robert Spillane interception, a terrific catch-and-run by first-round tight end Bowser and a short touchdown plunge by Alexander Mattison the touchdown maker. It was 16-13, Ravens, after three quarters.
For three quarter, this game was nothing like the last time the Raiders and Ravens met three years ago at Allegiant Stadium where the Raiders won an overtime thriller, 33-27.
Henry plowed into the end zone out of a wildcat formation in the early fourth quarter and the Ravens enjoyed a 23-13 lead.
Then the Raiders turned on a switch and suddenly Adams and Bowers were catching footballs and making terrific gains. Adams caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Bowers also snared nine passes for 98 yards.
A Daniel Carlson 25-yard field goal, a one-yard TD pass from Minshew to Adams and then the game-winner, a Carlson 38-yard boot, with only 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Raiders the improbable win.
Check out the fourth quarter scoring
The Raiders play their home-opener next Sunday Sept. 22 against the Carolina Panthers. LVSportsBiz.com will be there. Pierce had the locker room pumped after the win.
“We’re gonna find a way,” Minshew said during the presser, noting he did not play good enough in the first half.
Pierce said it was great to see the joy and celebration and he wants that to continue for the home-opener in seven days.