The Las Vegas Raiders opened the season with a wild overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens last night in front of an electric crowd at Allegiant Stadium… and in the end that’s all that matters to the team and its fans.
But man, the Raiders almost found a way to blow things in overtime when they took a delay of game penalty while setting up for what could have been a game-winning field goal on second down from the Ravens’ 26 yard line.
They couldn’t get their kicker out in time, though, which had Eli Manning in disbelief on his great new ESPN show with his brother Peyton.
It didn’t matter because on the next play the Raiders won the game with a 31-yard TD pass by Derek Carr but still, that delay of game call was a wild one.
Gruden’s explanation for what happened on that play was crazy, too:
"Our kicker was warming up in the net … no one could find him. But things worked out."
Jon Gruden on the late decision to try for a FG before having to take a delay of game. pic.twitter.com/W8heoIe44q
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 14, 2021
Uh, what? Couldn’t find the kicker!?
Here was Eli’s reaction:
Eli Manning for Raiders coach. 😂🏈 pic.twitter.com/UZtQFyC5CG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2021
Again, it did all work out well for the Raiders but that was such a Gruden thing to say.
NFL fans had reactions, too:
