Here are the games notes from the Oakland Raiders Week 1 showdown against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, presented by Microsoft Surface.
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Raiders 35, Saints 34
The Raiders won their first game of the 2016 season by a score of 35-34.
The victory over the Saints snaps a three-game losing skid against the New Orleans club, and evens the regular season series at six wins apiece with one tie.
The Week 1 victory for the Raiders is the first opening-day win since 2011, when the club defeated the Broncos at Mile High Stadium by a score of 23-20.
Two-Point Conversion for the Win
After trailing by 11 in the final quarter of play, Raiders QB Derek Carr orchestrated the team's fourth touchdown drive of the day, an 11-play, 75-yard drive to bring the Raiders to within one point with just 52 seconds left on the clock.
Choosing not to kick the extra point, Carr and WR Michael Crabtree converted a two-point conversion that would eventually be the game-winning score of the game.
The Raiders are the fourth team to score game-winning points on a two-point conversion in the game's final minute (First in season opener).
K Sebastian Janikowski now Raiders' All-Time leader
With K Sebastian Janikowski's appearance in the Week 1 victory against the Saints, Janiskowki became the Raiders All-Time leader in seasons of service for the franchise, officially making 2016 his 17th year wearing the Silver and Black (2002-2016), and surpassing Raiders legend Tim Brown's 16 seasons (1988-2003).
His 47 and 31-yard field goals put him ahead of Phil Dawson and David Akers (386) for 9th on the NFL's all-time list of field goals made and has now made 401 field goals in the regular season and postseason combined.
QB Derek Carr
On the second offensive drive of the 2016 opener, QB Derek Carr was able to orchestrate a seven-play, 97-yard drive lasting 4:48 and culminated in a touchdown rush by RB Latavius Murray. Carr accounted for 81 yards through the air on the drive.
Carr's first touchdown of the season came with 52 seconds left in the game, a 10-yard strike to WR Seth Roberts.
Carr threw for 319 yards on 24-of-38 passing (63.2 percent) with one touchdown for a passer rating of 98.5.
Carr's 300-yard performance marks his eighth career 300-yard game in his third season in the NFL.
WR Amari Cooper
WR Amari Cooper recorded three receptions of 30-or-more yards (43, 35 and 34), the first time he has done so in his career.
Cooper led all receivers at the half with 94 yards on five receptions, his fourth highest output in the first half of play in his young career.
Cooper finished the day with six receptions for 137 yards (22.8 yard avg.). His 137 yards are the most for a Raiders receiving on opening day since Ronald Curry registered 133 in the 2007 opener against the Lions.
WR Michael Crabtree
WR Michael Crabtree recorded his 18th consecutive game with at least three receptions, dating back to his final game as a member of the 49ers (12/28/2014).
Crabtree's day ended with seven receptions for 87 yards (12.4 yard avg.)
RB Latavius Murray
Making his 20th consecutive career start for the Silver and Black, RB Latavius Murray recorded his first opening-day touchdown in the NFL and first Raiders' touchdown of 2016, a 6-yard plunge up the middle to give the raiders a 10-3 lead in the first quarter.
Murray finished the day with 14 carries for 59 yards (4.2 yard avg.) with a touchdown and one catch for 13 yards.
RB Jalen Richard
In his Raiders' regular season debut, RB Jalen Richard scored his first career touchdown on a 75-yard rush midway through the fourth quarter. The score brought the Raiders to within two points of the Saints, where a two-point conversion between QB Derek Carr and WR Amari Cooper tied the game at 27 with 8:26 remaining in the game.
With his 75-yard touchdown, Richard became just the fourth player ever to score on a 75-or-more yard run in his NFL debut, joining the likes of Oran Pape (1930), Alan Ameche (1955) and Ottis Anderson (1979),
Richard finished the day with three carries for 84 yards (28.0 yard avg.) with a touchdown and added two catches for 11 yards (5.5 yard avg.).
WR Seth Roberts
WR Seth Roberts caught the Raiders first receiving touchdown of the 2016 season with 52 seconds left in the game on just his second grab of the day, a 10-yard pass from QB Derek Carr. Roberts' touchdown put the Raiders in position to win as they completed a two-point conversion on the following play.
FB Jamize Olawale
With 11:57 remaining in the game, FB Jamize Olawale punched in his first rushing touchdown of the season, a 2-yard touchdown that brought the game to within a score. The carry was Olawale's only attempt of the game.
T Donald Penn
T Donald Penn extended his streak of consecutive starts to 141 in the Week 1 victory over the saints, third most among active offensive lineman in the league.
LB Bruce Irvin
On the Saints' first drive of the season, Raiders newcomer LB Bruce Irvin recorded a strip-sack of QB Drew Brees on third down, creating the Raiders' first turnover of the season after a DL Jihad Ward recovery.
Irvin finish with two tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in his debut as a Raider.
DL Jihad Ward
DL Jihad Ward made his first career NFL start on the defensive line for the Raiders, the only Raiders rookie to start in Week 1.
After a forced fumble by LB Bruce Irvin, Ward recorded his first career fumble recovery and led to a 47-yard field goal to give the Raiders their first points of the 2016 season.
Other Notable NFL/Raiders Regular Season Debuts
S Reggie Nelson
Nelson tied a team-high eight tackles (seven solo) in his debut as a Raider.
RB DeAndré Washington
Washington's NFL debut featured five carries for 14 yards (2.8 yard avg.) and one catch for 10 yards.
G/T Kelechi Osemele
Osemele helped the Raiders rushed for three touchdowns for the first time since Oct. 27, 2013 against Pittsburgh and just the fourth time ever in a season opener.
After injuries to T Menelik Watson and T Matt McCants, Osemele showed his versatility by moving to left tackle as T Donald Penn switched to right tackle.
