Undefeated Las Vegas Raiders finding ways to win during 3-0 start
By CJ Errickson
For the first time in nineteen years, the Las Vegas Raiders have started the regular season 3-0 after a wild overtime victory versus the Miami Dolphins.
The Las Vegas Raiders started the game down 14-0 versus the Miami Dolphins, but the Silver and Black used a defensive score, and some clutch plays to lead the team to victory. The sentiments were similar among fans and pundits after quarterback Derek Carr threw a pick-six in the first quarter.
Subsequently, the concern mounted after a long Dolphins touchdown run on Miami’s ensuing offensive drive. However, the whole atmosphere of the game changed after an outstanding play by Casey Hayward which resulted in a safety for the Dolphins and got the Raiders on the board.
The game turned into a wild back and forth affair that eventually warred into overtime from this point forward. Like the first two weeks of the regular season, the Raiders utilized total team victory combined with resiliency to win in overtime.
Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards comes through in overtime
The Raiders were looking for a spark as their war of attrition versus the Miami Dolphins seemed like it would never end. However, the play that changed the game’s fortunes was at the hands of ascending-second year wide receiver Bryan Edwards.
Like the Silver and Black’s Week 1 OT victory versus the Baltimore Ravens, Edwards was Derek Carr’s go-to target when the game was on the line.
The former South Carolina Gamecock split double-team man coverage in overtime that set up Daniel Carlson’s game-winning field goal. Speaking of Carlson, he also came through despite a critical blunder in the 4th quarter of the contest.
Daniel Carlson redeemed himself in OT after a costly missed extra point
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson has been a steadfast kicker for the Silver and Black the past 2 seasons. Out of 45 field goal attempts, Carlson has connected on 43 (96% success rate) of them. More specifically, he has made every field goal attempted thus far this season. However, versus the Miami Dolphins today, he missed his first kick of the season.
Consequently, it was an extra point that may have spared the Raiders from the overtime madness. Regardless, when it mattered most, Daniel redeemed himself as he hit the game-winning field goal with no time to spare in overtime. Overall, this victory shows a more prevalent trait amongst Las Vegas’ undefeated football team.
This team is finding ways to win, even when things aren’t going their way
The common theme amongst the Las Vegas Raiders’ first three games of the season is resiliency. Whether facing a former MVP in Lamar Jackson in Week 1 or going on the road and defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers stellar defense in Week 2.
Las Vegas showed in Week 3 that even when things don’t always start their way, they know how to adjust and finish on a winning note. The same cannot be said of recent winning seasons, let alone in 2020’s matchup versus the very same Miami Dolphins team. It’s a new vibe and Raider team in 2021, and their resiliency can possibly carry them further than their team’s potential ever could.