Rams vs Raiders final score: Derek Carr showcases chemistry with receivers, defense holds in 18-3 win

Right from the start of this game, the crowd got a taste of some AC/DC. That is to say after the rendition of Hell's Bells, Carr looked to Amari Cooper several times right away. With the help of the defense, the Raiders take their preseason opener 18-3 over the visiting Rams.

The result for Amari Cooper was three catches on four targets for 22 yards. He also had an end around rush for 3 yards. Though it was the fourth pass that ended up keeping the Raiders first team out of the endzone when Carr threw for Cooper in the end zone and it was intercepted.

While the ball wasn't being passed to Cooper, Latavius Murray was running it well. He finished with 35 yards on 6 carries with a run of 17 yards. Michael Crabtree got some looks in the second drive catching two passes on three targets for 15 yards.

We knew we wouldn't see much of the starters in this one. It ended up that Derek Carr played for two drives resulting in a field goal and finishing off with an interception. On the interception it was clear Carr was going for Cooper from the start. The pass was picked by Trumaine Johnson in the end zone for a touchback. That was Carr's last play. He finished 6-9 for 43 yards and an interception.

Ponder entered the game on the third drive, but he was given the benefit of keeping the first team offensive line in front of him against the Rams second team defense. He drove the Raiders down the field for a touchdown, highlighted by a 16-yard pass to Brice Butler and a 22-yard connection with Clive Walford that put the team at the Rams 8 yard line. He finished it off with a 3-yard pass to Andre Holmes for the score. The two-point conversion attempt didn't make it over the goal line.

Ponder would play the entire second quarter and add an interception on 4th and 8 to send the teams into the locker room. He finished going 6-8 for 59 yards, a TD and interception.

The Raiders' first team defense was gouged on the first two plays on the game with a 26-yard hookup between Nick Foles and Lance Kendricks followed by a 35-yard pickup on a short pass to Tavon Austin. But the Rams couldn't punch it in when on third and 4 from the 14-yard line, Foles went for Jared Cook in the back left corner of the endzone and T.J. Carrie had tight coverage to defend it. The resulting field goal turned out to be the Rams' only points on the day.

Matt McGloin entered the game at QB for the Raiders to begin the third quarter and went 10-11 for 104 yards and a touchdown of his own on a pass to Brice Butler early in the fourth. Cody Fajardo took over and played the remainder of the fourth quarter.

Overall it was a good first look at this new Raiders team. My early thoughts are that Latavius Murray looked extremely good, finishing with 5.8 yards per carry. And outside of that one interception by Carr, he was very sharp. Ponder and McGloin both played well and found their receivers for scores.

The defense played extremely well, putting good pressure on the quarterback the whole game and outside of those two big plays early in the game, the secondary held up well.

The odd score was due to the Raiders opting to go for two on both of their touchdowns instead of kicking an extra point. It's the preseason and you take all the opportunities you can to have another goal line play. They also added two field goals for a final score of 18-3.

Follow @LeviDamien