Raiders' Mayer's TD Was the Difference in SNF Win

Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer's late-game touchdown reception was the only TD in the 16-12 victory over the New York Jets.

Sunday night's game between the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets was a battle of field goals.

Of the 28 points combined by the teams, 21 came from between the uprights.

Ultimately, Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer's seven-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell in the fourth quarter made the difference, as it put Las Vegas ahead.

Not only was it a critical play for the team, but it will also be a memorable highlight in Mayer's career, as it was his first NFL touchdown.

"Yeah, I mean, that's something I've been kind of looking forward to since the day I got drafted here pretty much," Mayer said when he addressed the media after the Raiders' 16-12 victory. "And honestly, it's about the team. It's about everybody running the route they needed to run, it's about Aidan putting the ball up there for me. 

"Really, that was one of the best balls of the day for him because he put it where only I could get it. There's no way the defender could have gotten that ball. So, a beautiful throw [from] him, kudos to him and a good play call there, too."

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer's TD made the difference in his team's SNF win / © Stephen R. Sylvanie | 2023 Nov 12

O'Connell and Mayer were in the same draft class. The chemistry shown on Sunday night was simply a product of the work they have put in with one another since the rookie mini-camp.

"I think pretty early on, Michael's shown us that he's a special player," O'Connell said. "Even in rookie mini-camp, I remember him just being this super tough guy. I remember him having blisters all over his feet, and his socks were full of blood. 

"We knew, I think, as an offense and as a team, we had a really good young player there, and he did an awesome job making an awesome play. I kind of just threw it up and let him be a football player, and man, he made an awesome play." 

The Silver and Black will head out on the road to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST.

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