The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t come away with a victory in their Week 1 game versus the Los Angeles Chargers, but quarterback Gardner Minshew did set a franchise record.
According to Raiders Public Relations, Minshew’s 75.8 completion percentage in the losing effort is the highest for a quarterback in their Raiders debut in franchise history (minimum 30 attempts). Also, the completion rate is the sixth-highest in NFL history (since 1950) by a quarterback in their debut with any team.
Minshew completed 25-of-33 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown to one pick, and added three carries for five yards. Minshew’s pick came on the Raiders’ final drive of the game when the contest was already over.
But that wasn’t his only blemish. Minshew didn’t get a good handle on a snap in the second quarter and attempted to get rid of the ball quickly, which led to a turnover that the Chargers turned into three points.
While Minshew wasn’t great by any stretch, he was far from the biggest issue. The Raiders’ offensive line did not play well, both in pass protection and run-blocking, and Minshew was sacked four times and was under duress for much of the game.
Minshew’s touchdown was the only one the Raiders could muster up on the day, and it came on a dump-off to running back Alexander Mattison, who did all of the work to find pay dirt.
After so much concern about the quarterback position and the offense in general throughout the entire offseason, things went about as poorly as everyone feared they might. The Raiders will look to bounce back when they face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
