If the Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams entered Friday night with optimism, both teams’ fans have reason to buzz about last night’s performance. For the home Raiders, the atmosphere was darn near regular season-esque, and the silver and black delivered in an 18-3 win against the visiting Rams. “It was a crisp night, and that’s what we’re looking to have,” said Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio.
There was certainly an unfamiliar crispness to a Raiders offense that has been rough around the edges in recent years. Running back Latavius Murray proved with more play time that he can be the bell cow the Raiders have been looking for, carrying six times for 35 yards. Derek Carr connected early and often with new receiver Amari Cooper to the tune of six completions for 43 yards. Even rookie tight end Clive Walford made an impression late in the game, including a 20 yard seam haul from Christian Ponder to set up the game’s first touchdown.
It wasn’t all roses for the Raiders, though, and an early game red zone pass from Carr to Cooper ended up being picked off in the end zone. “Me and [Cooper] had the miscommunication down in the red zone,” Carr said when asked about the rookie in the post game interview, adding “we’re very happy it happened now, and not in the regular season—that’s what the preseason is for."
Nick Foles and company also showed promise with a strong inaugural drive—including an impressive 35 yard catch and run from Tavon Austin—which led to the Rams’ only points. “I was just excited to be out there as a Ram,” said Foles in a post-game locker room press conference. The Rams certainly do have a lot to be excited about; both starting rookies on the offensive line Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown held their own against a charging Raiders front. The Rams will look to get more points on the board from both their starters and second and third teams when they face the Titans on week two.
Not only on the scoreboard, but also on the injury report were the Rams the losers on Friday night. Starting left guard Rodger Saffold and linebacker and special teams maestro Daren Butler suffered potentially significant injuries. Both players are scheduled to undergo MRIs on Saturday.
All in all, it was a strong night for all participants involved. Both teams will return to their camps looking to use Friday's experience as a buffer toward the regular season. Health and experience will be paramount for both teams moving forward. The Raiders exited week one unscathed, but the Rams reminded everyone of the perilousness each play invites.
