On Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium, the Las Vegas Raiders went head-to-head against the visiting Dallas Cowboys in the team’s second of three preseason games.
Although these games are not very important regarding wins and losses, this matchup was crucial for quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Head coach Antonio Pierce let it be known that he’d decide who would be the starter under center in Week 1 after this game was played in Las Vegas.
Antonio Pierce says he's seen enough when it comes to the QB battle between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell: "We'll sleep on it and make a decision in the next couple of days." #Raiders
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) August 18, 2024
Apparently, Minshew impressed Pierce the most in this quarterback competition, as Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that a decision has been made to start the veteran in Week 1 over the second-year quarterback.
The #Raiders are naming Gardner Minshew their starting QB, per sources.
Coach Antonio Pierce just informed the QBs of his decision after a camp battle between Minshew and Aidan O’Connell.
Minshew Mania continues in Las Vegas, which opens Sept. 8 vs. the #Chargers. pic.twitter.com/3E2zLgcOJA
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 18, 2024
Although the Raiders have one more preseason game left to play, the storied franchise will face the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on August 23. The starters aren’t expected to play in this game.
That said, Minshew’s next game will be against Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 at SoFi Stadium on September 8. This should be an interesting game for both teams, which have undergone drastic changes since last season, from head coach to player personnel.
Currently, the Chargers are slightly favored to win in Week 1 with a -3 point spread. Los Angeles could be a formidable opponent during the 2024 NFL season, as Harbaugh is a game-changer for this struggling franchise. However, it remains to be seen if there’s immediate success for the Chargers with the new leader on the sideline.
As for the Raiders, Maxx Crosby and company can make some noise right out of the gate if they can get the best of their division rivals and make a statement with what many believe will be a dominant defense.
The pressure will be on Minshew to produce early and often for the offense, as he could be on a short leash with O’Connell waiting for another opportunity to get back on the field while having a supporter like superstar wide receiver Davante Adams, who has praised the young quarterback.
Raiders’ Franchise Value has been Revealed
During its time in Oakland, California, the Raiders were one of the poorest franchises in the NFL. However, that has changed now that they are in Las Vegas, Nevada, considerably boosting the team’s value while playing in a state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium, which could be one of the best arenas in the league right now.
The three-time Super Bowl champions are now valued at $6.7 billion, which puts them among the top 10 teams in the league.
