Raiders tight end Brock Bowers set two NFL records and helped his team beat the Saints 25-10 today in New Orleans.
Bowers broke Mike Ditka’s record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and then about an hour later broke Puka Nacua’s record for receptions by a rookie. It was a big day for Bowers, who has had an all-time great rookie season and has been one of the Raiders’ few bright spots.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell also had a big day, completing 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. O’Connell is doing his best to make his case that he deserves a shot at the Raiders’ starting job in 2025.
The Saints didn’t get much out of quarterback Spencer Rattler, who has largely looked overmatched since taking over for the injured Derek Carr, but who also hasn’t been getting much help from a Saints team with a depleted roster.
The win improves the Raiders’ record to 4-12, while the Saints fall to 5-11. Both teams are thinking about the 2025 NFL draft right now, but the Raiders aren’t tanking. They played hard in a meaningless game, and Bowers put his name in the record books.
