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The Las Vegas Raiders are perfect.
They are 3-0. OK, they’re not perfect, but they’re undefeated and they have some serious mojo going on.
Let’s look at five keys from Sunday’s 31-28 overtime win over the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium:
Allegiant Stadium magic:
The Raiders have played two home games with fans in the stands at Allegiant Stadium and they both went to overtime. Las Vegas came out on top in both games. The Raiders went 2-6 at home last season and coach Jon Gruden and the entire franchise was really excited to finally get fans into the sweet, new joint. There is a real vibe going on in Las Vegas and the Raiders are thriving off of it.
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Hello, Peyton Barber:
Peyton Barber was a bottom-of-the-scrapheap pickup just before the season started. The journeyman came up big Sunday and ended up with a game ball. He became the primary tailback Sunday as the game went on and ended up with 111 yards rushing, a touchdown and a critical, 27-yard run in overtime to help setup Daniel Carlson’s game-winning field goal. He will have a role even when Josh Jacobs returns from an injury, which could be Week 4 at the Los Angeles Chargers.
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Overtime Edwards:
In the big picture, second-year wide receiver Bryan Edwards is doing just OK. But when it counts, the South Carolina product has been a monster for the Raiders. He came up with big late catches again Sunday, including a huge play to help setup the win. He did the same thing against Baltimore in Week 1 at the end of regulation and in overtime. He is going to be fun to watch develop.
The 109 yards receiving in OT by Edwards are the most in a season for any player since at least 1991 https://t.co/ZofYKrScUu
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 27, 2021
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Carr overcame pick six:
In the first quarter, Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr threw a pick six for the 11th time in his career. The Raiders lost the game the 10 other times he did that. Not Sunday. He was great again and threw for 386 yards. He leads the NFL in passing yardage and he is the only quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in all three games. The MVP chatter will not end this week.
Should this be a flag for PI?pic.twitter.com/IUxrfRVyNn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 26, 2021
Abram may have got away with one: Raiders’ safety Johnathan Abram was awfully close to blowing the game. He arguably could have been called for pass interference and give the Dolphins the ball at the 1-yard line and a great chance to win in overtime. But the penalty wasn’t called. And the Raiders won. I’m telling you, it’s Allegiant Stadium magic.
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