Arizona ended the preseason with a 20–10 victory over Las Vegas, but it would be wrapped in cool tension, and perhaps a crucial blow to the depth of the Raiders’ QB position.
Game Highlights & Key Moments
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith connected with the slick Dont’e Thornton Jr. on a nice 17-yard touchdown to cap off their only successful possession of the game—Las Vegas was leading 7-0.
Rookie quarterback Clayton Tune led Arizona’s offense well—throwing a touchdown while also rushing for 47 yards to set the wheels in motion for their win.
Daniel Carlson later connected on a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter, but Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell encountered a wrist injury in the middle of the first half and will be out for approximately 6-8 weeks.
Raiders running back Zamir White finished with 42 yards on nine carries, while Malcolm Koonce came back strongly from his ACL tear with a big sack.
But the depth of Arizona’s roster was put on display, as Bam Knight cruised 67 yards for a touchdown, while the Raiders defensive issues and penalties defensively were blamed for illustrating the failings of their depth.
Crunch the Clutch Insights
Depth issues highlighted again: Lots of back ups, and back ups of back ups, blew opportunities for the Raiders.
O’Connell injury wrecks options: Injuries force the Raiders to take a crash course on QB options available heading into the season.
Rising stars in the limelight: Tune and Koonce provided a boost—two new names that provided a little more hope for a postseason.
Final Thoughts
The Cardinals walk away with a win—an accomplished final game of preseason and momentum. For the Raiders? A preseason without a win, a critical injury, and unanswered personnel questions will linger.