NFL 2024 Preseason: Week 2 Raiders Recap
The Raiders held their second preseason game, and their first one at home in Las Vegas. They hosted the Dallas Cowboys.
The Raiders began at their own 24. The previous week Aidan O’Connell started. This week Garden Minshew began the game. The Raiders moved to a 4th and 3 at the Dallas 47. Normally this would be a punting situation, but in preseason coaches take chances. Antonio Pierce went for it and Minshew threw incomplete. Dan Prescott had the night off so Cooper Rush led the offense. Brandon Aubrey hit a 54 yard field goal but then hit the ensuing kickoff out of bounds. The Raiders took over at their own 40. They moved to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 12. A run gained only one yard and Minshew then threw incomplete twice. Daniel Carlson hit a 29 yard field goal for a 3-3 game.
Trey Lance took over as Cowboys quarterback. The game turned into a puntfest, eventually leading to the Raiders recovering a fumbled punt at the Dallas 23 in the second quarter. Yet on 4th and 5, Antonio Pierce passed up an easy field goal and again went for it. This would not happen in the regular season. Minshew threw incomplete. The Cowboys punted and Tre Tucker returned the punt 43 yards to the Dallas 28. This time on 4th and 5 from the Dallas 9, Pierce played it safe. Carlson hit the 27 yard field goal to make it 6-3 Raiders midway through the second quarter.
The Cowboys from their own 24 embarked on a 14 play, 76 yard, 6 1/2 minute drive. Lance hit Flournoy for a one yard touchdown to make it 10-6 Cowboys. The half ended with history. Aubrey came in for a 66 yard field goal try. Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker holds the record with a 66 yard field goal. Aubrey made the kick. Yet the record books will not show that he tied the record. This was a preseason game. His great kick will be unheralded. Nevertheless, the Cowboys led 13-6 at the break.
In the third quarter O’Connell led a 13 play, 57 yard, 7 minute drive. On 4th and 2 at the Dallas 26, Antonio Pierce went for it. O’Connell hit Turner for 8. O’Connell hit Bryant for a 5 yard touchdown. Normally this would mean a tie game, but preseason is when coaches get bold. Antonio Pierce eschewed the tie and went for a 2 point conversion and the lead. O’Connell threw incomplete and the Raiders trailed 13-12.
The Raiders got it back and moved from their own 34 and moved to a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 29. Then came an offensive holding penalty. The fourth quarter began with the Raiders facing 2nd and 16 at the Dallas 35. The Raiders were in position for a long field goal and the lead. Carlson never got the chance. O’Connell was intercepted by Hail, who returned the pick 69 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 20-12 Cowboys lead. The Cowboys got it back at their own 12 and moved 88 yards in 12 plays and 7 1/2 minutes. Lance capped the drive with a 2 yard touchdown to put the game on ice. The Raiders dropped to 0-2 in the preseason. 27-12 Cowboys