The Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 26-20 on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium to win their second straight preseason game. Head coach Josh McDaniels raved about the Vegas home crowd after the win.
“I’ve been around a lot of preseason games over 22 years and I don’t remember one feeling like this,” McDaniels said. “The reception from our fans, getting to know Raider Nation the way that you see them now, it’s just different.”
“That is the best atmosphere in a preseason game that I’ve ever been a part of.”
The offensive line continued to be the team’s major storyline on Sunday. Starting LT Kolton Miller did not play as the competition for the remaining starting jobs continued.
The Raiders starting offensive line against the Vikings, from left to right, was Jermaine Eluemunor, John Simpson, Andre James, Lester Cotton Sr., and seventh-round rookie Thayer Munford. Linemen Alex Leatherwood and Dylan Parham also saw plenty of action as the entire unit continues to take shape.
“I don’t really think this is unique at all,” McDaniels said about the team using so many different offensive line groupings during training camp. “This is really normal… There’s just too much to be gained in training camp for you to forego the opportunity to work with different groupings.”
“If you put five guys together and that’s the only five guys they practice beside, you’re doing them a disservice. Because it’s not realistic. It’s not going to happen during the regular season very much.”
Starting RB Josh Jacobs did not play against the Vikings after playing much more than was expected against the Jaguars in the Hall of Fame Game. McDaniels and his staff are certainly taking a conservative approach with the team’s projected starters and giving the vast majority of preseason reps to the backups and players competing for a roster spot.
The Raiders will next travel to Miami, FL to take on the Dolphins on Saturday, Aug. 20 for their third preseason matchup.
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