Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell has had a considerably solid debut season.
The fourth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Purdue has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 1,974 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Interim Coach Antonio Pierce named O’Connell the starting quarterback when he took over, giving him a chance to prove himself.
O’Connell has one game left of his rookie season, one last chance to make his case to be the Raiders’ long-term starting quarterback. The Denver Broncos come to Allegiant Stadium in the season finale, and their defense has played much better in the second half of 2023.
Since letting the Miami Dolphins hang 70 points on them in Week 3, the Broncos defense has allowed just 20.3 points per game. They rank seventh in the NFL in takeaways with 26. This season, Cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons were named to the Pro Bowl.
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O’Connell has not yet played this Broncos defense, so this will be his first shot at their talented group. He must be sharp against a defense that has been a problem for quarterbacks throughout 2023.
The Raiders let O’Connell throw the ball a career-high 47 times last week against the Indianapolis Colts as they tried to generate offense through the air. They may want to attempt to do that again if they're going to beat the Broncos, but O’Connell must be aware of Surtain and Simmons, who are two of the best players in the league at their respective positions.
O’Connell has had good moments as a rookie. He threw four touchdowns against the Los Angeles Chargers in December, taking shots downfield and being confident with the football.
However, he had a rough game the following week on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he completed just 42.9 percent of his passes for a career-low 62 yards. He will also need to get the ball out quicker, as he has been sacked at least once in each of the last seven games.
The Raiders can defeat their rival Broncos this afternoon for the seventh consecutive time. If they do, it will be their eighth victory of the season, which they can carry into the offseason with significant momentum.
O’Connell is looking to cap off his solid rookie season with a strong performance and a victory. He must play smart football against a talented defense to make that happen.
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