The Las Vegas Raiders played a football game for the first time in seven months on Saturday as the team took the field for the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, Saturday's preseason opener didn't go Las Vegas' way, as the team lost 24-23 on a game-winning field goal by the Vikings. Though losing any football game is disappointing, the preseason isn't judged by wins or losses.
It's really about evaluating players who are trying to earn a roster spot and/or role on the team. In preseason Week 1, the Raiders saw several players help their stock, but others no doubt hurt theirs. With that being said, here are the biggest winners and losers from the game.
Raiders winners, losers from preseason Week 1 Winner: The QBs After an underwhelming training camp in Costa Mesa, Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew impressed on Saturday. O'Connell played just one series due to a lengthy opening drive by the Vikings, but the 25-year-old was near perfect in his only opportunity, completing seven of his nine passes for 76 yards. Las Vegas did have to settle for a field goal on O'Connell's lone drive, but the second-year signal caller drove the team down the field and made multiple high-level throws before the drive stalled inside the red zone due to a sack.
Gardner Minshew played the entire second quarter for the Silver and Black, leading two touchdown drives that featured a 20-yard touchdown pass to DJ Turner and a 44-yard deep ball to Tre Tucker on his second series.