Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) reacts after scoring a 60-yard touchdown during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Jan 1, 2023 (AP News photo)

Raiders Challenge Best Defense In Football But Lose In Overtime 37-34

By Barbara Mason

It sure has been an interesting week for the Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) as they prepared to take on the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Allegiant Stadium. With two games left in the season there has been a changing of the guard if you will as Derek Carr was benched giving 26-yr-old Jarrett Stidham the nod for the final two games. This would be his first career start.

This was not all that surprising when you look back on the season; the losses mounting, the blown leads: so many games that they should have won. You could see the writing on the wall long before today’s game.

Since the emergence of wonder kid quarterback Brock Purdy San Francisco has looked invincible. Nothing could have prepared us for what we would see in this game.

You would expect some early adjustment with changes at the helm. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Jarrett Stidham commandeered his team downfield culminating in a 24 yard. pass to Darren Waller for the touchdown and the early 7-0 lead. San Francisco would answer at 7:06 to tie up the game. Brock Purdy would find Brandon Alyuk for a couple yards and the touchdown. The first quarter ended with a 20 yard Daniel Carlson Field Goal giving the Raiders a 10-7 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.

The 49ers would take the lead in the second quarter 14-10. Purdy would connect with George Kittle for 2 yards. The extra point was good and San Francisco would take their first lead of the game. When it looked as if the 49ers would take the lead into the half, Las Vegas struck again. With ten ticks left on the clock Stidham found Davante Adams for 4 yards and it was the Raiders that took the 17-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.

It had been a crazy and unlikely first half but the best was yet to come. Las Vegas would extend their lead in the third quarter. At 10:22 Stidham would throw his third touchdown pass of the game. He found Davante Adams for 60 yards giving the Raiders a 24-14 lead. At 5:22 SF running back Christian McCaffrey rushed for 14 yards and the touchdown pulling to within three points of Las Vegas.

San Francisco would tie up the game in the fourth quarter at 24. Robbie Gould kicked a 43 yards Field Goal. Gould would make a second kick at 6:44. This was a 24 yards Field goal giving the 49ers the lead 27-24 in a wild and wooly game. With the clock winding down, Las Vegas tied up the game again. Carlson made an amazing 57 yards Field Goal to knot it up at 27. The number one defense in football was being sorely tested by the Raiders.

The 49ers came right back taking the lead 34-27 with 2:17 left in this game. The Raiders were far from finished even with so little time left on the clock. Stidham would complete a pass to Adams for 45 yards which set up a one yard rush from Josh Jacobs to tie up the game at 34 with 1:11 left in the game. When it looked as if it would be a certain win for San Francisco Robbie Gould missed a 41 yard Field Goal and this game would go into overtime.

Las Vegas won the coin toss to start overtime. On the fourth play of the first possession Stidham tried to hit Adams but ended up throwing his second interception of the game setting San Francisco up deep in Raider territory. Robbie Gould would redeem himself kicking a 23 yard field goal giving the 49ers their ninth win in a row.

You may have not been acquainted with Stidham prior to this game but he sure made an impact and very nearly came away with an amazing win. Stidham finished with 365 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Davante Adams had 153 receiving yards. Stidham found six different receivers; all of them for at least 19 plus yards. It was probably the best game Las Vegas had played this season.

Brock Purdy finished with 284 passing yards and two touchdowns . He had one interception. The San Francisco running game was all about Christian McCaffrey with 121 Yds.

Las Vegas will finish the season next Sunday taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. There will be no post-season for the Raiders but all eyes will be on Stidham next week. If the Raiders see another game like today’s game, the Raiders just may have a real diamond in the rough for next season. Kickoff Is January 8th but the time is still TBD.