By Daniel Dullum

Sports Radio Service

Friday, August 14, 2015

The Oakland Raiders opened their 2015 NFL exhibition schedule with an 18-3 win over the visiting St. Louis Rams at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland.

Oakland (1-0) surged ahead to stay when Christian Ponder threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Andre Holmes. Though Ponder’s 2-point conversion pass to Kenbrell Thompkins was incomplete, the Raiders took a 9-3 lead with 5:50 left in the first half.

Georgio Tavecchio’s 39-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 16-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter from Matt McGloin to Brice Butler helped Oakland build its 15-point lead. McGloin’s 2-point pass to Kris Durham was incomplete, as the Raiders declined to try the new, longer extra-point kicking distance after each of their TDs.

The teams traded field goals in the first quarter. Greg Zuerlein put the Rams (0-1) on the board with a 31-yard field goal, and Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 44-yarder to tie it with 7:20 left in the period.

As per normal, many players on both sides saw action in the first exhibition game of the season. Brice Butler led Oakland with six pass receptions for 57 yards and one TD, and Latavius Murray carried six times for 35 yards, McGloin completed 10 of 11 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown, while Ponder completed 6 of 8 for 75 yards and a TD with one interception. Derek Carr completed 6 of 9 passes for 43 yards and was picked off once.

Next week, the Raiders travel to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota – the Vikings’ temporary home while their new stadium is being built on the site once occupied by the Metrodome. Minnesota defeated Pittsburgh 14-3 in its exhibition opener.