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Break up the Raiders: Aidan O’Connell’s two TD passes have Vegas rolling

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  • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterDec 14, 2023, 10:29 PM ET

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      Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role – writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA’s Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis’ Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN

LAS VEGAS — Break up the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense.

Four 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. The Raiders had scored 21 points in a game this season only once before Thursday.

Las Vegas’ first score was a 1-yard TD plunge by Zamir White, his first career score as he was starting in place of injured All-Pro Josh Jacobs. It came on the Raiders’ initial offensive possession. The Raiders had gone 15 straight drives without a point, dating to the final three possessions against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12. It was their longest such drought since 2019, when they had 18 straight scoreless drives.

The next two scores were set up by a pair of takeaways by the Raiders’ defense — defensive end Malcolm Koonce had a strip-sack of Chargers quarterback Easton Stick which rookie defensive end Tyree Wilson recovered, and safety Marcus Epps popped running back Joshua Kelley to force a fumble, with Raiders defensive tackle Jerry Tillery jumping on the ball.

The first fumble recovery set up an eye-opening touchdown, as rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell found speedy rookie receiver Tre Tucker, who blew by Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. for a 30-yard touchdown catch.

Tucker’s score had to survive the replay process as he appeared to bobble to ball before going out of bounds. After a lengthy review, the initial call of TD stood.

The second recovery set up the Raiders’ third first-quarter TD, with O’Connell finding Jakobi Meyers for a quick 22-yard score.

The Raiders’ 21 points were their most in a first quarter since 2010, when they led 24-0 after one quarter against the Broncos en route to a 59-14 victory. It is also the first time they’ve scored three touchdowns on their first three possessions since 2015 against the New York Jets.

And with 3:50 to play in the second quarter, 12th-year veteran running back Brandon Bolden got in on the fun, scoring untouched out of the Wildcat formation from 26 yards out to give the Raiders a season high in points in taking a 35-0 lead.

It was Bolden’s first score since the 2021 season finale, when he played for the New England Patriots, and the Raiders’ 35 points are their most in any half since the previously mentioned 2010 game against the Broncos, when they led Denver 38-7 at halftime.

The Raiders got the ball to start the second half and methodically marched down the field before, yes, while leading by 42 points, the Raiders pulled out a trick play.

After hauling in a pass on the right side, Meyers paused, spied Davante Adams in the right corner of the end zone and hit him for a 3-yard score.

Again, a trick play while leading by 42 points to go up 49-0.

This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.

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