The Las Vegas Raiders defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a convincing fashion 34-7 in a preseason opening game on Sunday night.
Showed up and showed out. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/LjFyahw9fr
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 13, 2023
Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell shone for the Las Vegas team as he completed 15 of 18 passes for 141 yards plus a touchdown.
“I thought he generally handled himself well for the first (playing) opportunity,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “He’s going to learn a lot from some of the things we might have been able to do a little bit better that would’ve helped us maybe sustain a few drives.”
O’Connell was drafted in the fourth round from Purdue, where he registered 66.7 career completion percentage.
Trey Lance played the first half and completed 10 of 15 passes for 112 yards, but was sacked four times and had two potential interceptions dropped.
But the Raiders were the far more efficient, creative and persistent team, dominating the game from start to finish with a 10-play and a 68-yard drive.