It didn’t take long for new Las Vegas Raiders star quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to score his first win with his new team. It came in his very first game in a Raiders uniform as he led Las Vegas to a tremendous 17-16 comeback win against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.
The Raiders are obviously hoping that this is the first of many for Jimmy G.
Las Vegas Raiders Star Jimmy Garoppolo Suffers Injury Scare
The win did not come without incident, though. In the very first drive of the season, Garoppolo gave his new team a proper scare after hitting the deck hard and remaining on the ground for an uncomfortably extended period.
The two-time Super Bowl champ had to quickly exit the game to be checked for a concussion after what was deemed as an illegal hit by Broncos safety Justin Simmons. Thankfully, Jimmy G was cleared by the medical staff and was able to return to the game shortly after the hit. He looked fine the rest of the way.
Jimmy Garoppolo All Smiles After Scoring First Win for Las Vegas Raiders
The Broncos entered halftime with a 13-10 lead after scoring a touchdown late in the second quarter. It seemed like the Raiders were headed to another opening-day loss, but apparently. Garoppolo had other ideas.
Las Vegas was able to mount a comeback in this one, and naturally, it was Jimmy G who closed out the game in the fourth quarter with his team up 17-16 with less than two minutes remaining in the contest:
QB Jimmy Garoppolo wins the game for the Las Vegas #Raiders… pic.twitter.com/ceMvgNqyvq
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) September 10, 2023
Garoppolo finished his debut with 20-of-26 completed passes for 200 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, it was his late-game rush that secured the victory for Las Vegas.
After the game, Jimmy G was all smiles as he described how important this victory was for him and his teammates:
“It was a special win,” Garoppolo said, via NFL on CBS on Twitter. “All of them are special but this one, guys just gritted it out. Big drive at the end. Defense held up. It took everybody today. It was a lot of fun.”
Garoppolo was then asked to comment on his first win under head coach Josh McDaniels, whom the quarterback has credited for aiding in his development as a youngster with the New England Patriots:
“It’s awesome,” Jimmy G said. “He called a great game. He kept us composed on the sideline. He’s a great leader. He was doing his thing today.”
Garoppolo and the Raiders return to action in Week 2 against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
For More Of My Content
Follow me on Twitter at @PaoloSongcoNBA. You may also reach out to me personally at pao.songco@gmail.com.