Jimmy Garoppolo passed for two touchdowns in his Las Vegas debut and the Raiders spoiled Sean Payton’s first game as Denver’s coach with a 17-16 victory over the host Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
Jakobi Meyers had nine catches for 81 yards and two scores in his first game with the Raiders, who beat the Broncos for the seventh straight time. Meyers left late in the contest to be examined for a possible concussion.
Payton’s team fell one point short, partially due to Will Lutz’s missed extra point after the club’s first touchdown.
Russell Wilson completed 27 of 34 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns for Denver. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Courtland Sutton caught touchdown passes and Kareem Jackson recorded an interception.
Nate Hobbs had 12 tackles for the Raiders.
Las Vegas moved 75 yards on six plays to take a 17-16 lead with 6:34 remaining in the game. Garoppolo hit Meyers from 6 yards out, and Daniel Carlson’s extra point pushed the Raiders ahead.
Las Vegas later faced third-and-8 from its own 44-yard line with three minutes left when Garoppolo threw a short pass to Meyers. Jackson delivered a fierce hit to stop Meyers a yard short of the first down, but his hit to the head drew an unnecessary roughness flag and gave the Raiders a crucial first down.
Meyers was down on the turf for a few minutes and appeared woozy as he was eventually helped off the field by two trainers. He immediately was ruled out due to concussion protocol.
Meanwhile, Garoppolo scrambled for a first down with 1:42 left and the Raiders ran out the clock.
The Broncos played without receiver Jerry Jeudy (hamstring). Las Vegas was without defensive end Chandler Jones (personal reasons), who sharply criticized the organization and coach Josh McDaniel less than a week ago.
The Payton era began with an unsuccessful onside kick on the opening kickoff.
The Raiders took over with a short field and Garoppolo threw his first touchdown for the Silver and Black, hitting Meyers on a 3-yard scoring pass to cap a 10-play, 44-yard drive.
Wilson threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey with 44 seconds in the left in the first quarter. Lutz’s extra point was wide right.
Las Vegas increased its lead to 10-6 on Carlson’s 24-yard field goal with 10:54 left in the first half.
Denver moved back ahead when Wilson tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Sutton with 12 seconds left in the half.
The Broncos increased their lead to 16-10 on a 24-yard field goal by Lutz with 8:54 left in the game.
–Field Level Media
