Vegas opens Allegiant Stadium with 10-point win over New Orleans

A 54-yard field goal by Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson created an insurmountable lead for New Orleans to overcome and secured the first win at Allegiant Stadium for the franchise.

The Raiders defeated the Saints, 34-24, on Monday Night Football Sept. 21.

It’s the team’s first 2-0 start since the 2017 season.

Vegas will take to the road next for a week three matchup against New England looking for its first 3-0 start since 1990.

The Raiders defense started out shaky, spotting the Saints 10 points in the first eight minutes of the game before holding them to 14 the rest of the way.

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees passed for over 300 yards but for the second consecutive game looked unlike the Brees of the past.

He completed 26 of his 38 pass attempts, throwing a touchdown and an interception.

The Saints were playing without pro bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Vegas quarterback Derek Carr completed two more passes than Brees on the same number of attempts for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

Carr has yet to throw an interception through the first two weeks of the season.

The answer to the trivia question of: who scored the first touchdown in Allegiant Stadium for the home team, is fullback Alec Inglod.

Eleven different receivers recorded receptions on the night.

Led by tight end Darren Waller who reeled in 12 catches on 16 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown.

The Raider offense was consistent putting up four straight scoring drives after falling behind 10-0.

The drives consisted of 11-plays, 10-plays, eight-plays and nine plays. Later in the game, the team would have a 12-play drive that ended in a fumble.

Overall, Vegas won the time of possession battle 36:18 to 23:42.

Coming into the game, the Raiders were without tackles Trent Brown and Sam Young. During the game, guard Richie Incognito left the game with an achilles injury.

Even with the battered offensive line, Vegas rushed for 116 yards as a team led by second-year running back Josh Jacobs.

Jacobs tallied 88 yards on 27 carries.

Backup Jalen Richard had 26 yards on two carries and made up for his fumble that ended the game’s longest drive by scoring a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

In just two games against the Saints in his career, Richard has five rushes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

For the second straight game, Vegas only committed three penalties.

On the other side of the ball, New Orleans committed 10 that cost them 129 yards.

This includes a roughing the passer call late in the third quarter, a quarter where the team committed five penalties.

Later in the fourth quarter, the Saints were flagged for defensive pass interference on first round draft pick Henry Ruggs.

New Orleans is the only team in the National Football League with over 200 penalty yards through the first two weeks of the season.