LAS VEGAS — Break up the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense.
4 days after getting shut out in a 3-0 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders scored a trio of first-quarter touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead over the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night time. The Raiders had scored 21 factors in a sport this season solely as soon as earlier than Thursday.
Las Vegas’ first rating was a 1-yard TD plunge by Zamir White, his first profession rating as he was beginning rather than injured All-Professional Josh Jacobs. It got here on the Raiders’ preliminary offensive possession. The Raiders had gone 15 straight drives with out a level, courting to the ultimate three possessions in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Week 12. It was their longest such drought since 2019, after they had 18 straight scoreless drives.
The subsequent two scores had been arrange by a pair of takeaways by the Raiders’ protection — defensive finish Malcolm Koonce had a strip-sack of Chargers quarterback Easton Stick which rookie defensive finish Tyree Wilson recovered, and security Marcus Epps popped operating again Joshua Kelley to drive a fumble, with Raiders defensive deal with Jerry Tillery leaping on the ball.
The primary fumble restoration arrange an eye-opening landing, as rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell discovered speedy rookie receiver Tre Tucker, who blew by Chargers security Derwin James Jr. for a 30-yard landing catch.
THAT ROOKIE CONNECTION 🤝#LACvsLV | 📺 @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/sdMXuyOt6O
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 15, 2023
Tucker’s rating needed to survive the replay course of as he appeared to bobble to ball earlier than going out of bounds. After a prolonged evaluate, the preliminary name of TD stood.
The second restoration arrange the Raiders’ third first-quarter TD, with O’Connell discovering Jakobi Meyers for a fast 22-yard rating.
AOC WITH THE DIME TO JAKOBI!!!#LACVsLV | 📺 @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/McEaakZZoJ
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 15, 2023
The Raiders’ 21 factors had been their most in a primary quarter since 2010, after they led 24-0 after one quarter in opposition to the Broncos en path to a 59-14 victory. Additionally it is the primary time they’ve scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions since 2015 in opposition to the New York Jets.
And with 3:50 to play within the second quarter, Twelfth-year veteran operating again Brandon Bolden received in on the enjoyable, scoring untouched out of the Wildcat formation from 26 yards out to present the Raiders a season excessive in factors in taking a 35-0 lead.
Brandon Bolden takes the snap and goes untouched! 35-0 @Raiders.#LACvsLV on Prime Video
Additionally accessible on #NFLPlus https://t.co/ga7O4RMwdt pic.twitter.com/KxuzHMF85A— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2023
It was Bolden’s first rating because the 2021 season finale, when he performed for the New England Patriots, and the Raiders’ 35 factors are their most in any half because the beforehand talked about 2010 sport in opposition to the Broncos, after they led Denver 38-7 at halftime.
