On Halloween weekend 2022, the National Football League's team from Las Vegas entered the Ceasars Superdome for the first time in history. Although the Raiders have invaded New Orleans to challenge the Saints seven times since 1971, the previously nomadic team had always been a California-based franchise taking the New Orleans fields five times as an Oakland team, and twice as a Los Angeles team. But while the colors and logos remained essentially intact, the Raiders ran onto the field as the first NFL football team from Las Vegas on October 30 at noon, and Raiders fans were well represented to cheer them on.
Black Hearted Football Rivals
On paper, the two teams promised to be a competitive battle with statisticians giving the Saints a 1.5-point advantage in the spread, both coming into their mid-season game with similar, albeit disappointing, records—Raiders with two wins and four losses versus the Saints with two wins and five losses (not yet having their bye week). Spirits were high along Poydras Street and throughout Champions Square, with the black-and-silver interlopers intermixed among the black-and-gold WhoDats.
Masses of die-hard Raiders fans posed for group photos in front of the Superdome taken by accommodating Saints fans. Long established Saints tailgate crowds under Interstate 10 found silver and black and gold fans almost indistinguishable.
"The team that wins is playing for a miracle, the losing team is playing for a draft pick," Chip Martin, a Raiders fan from New England, summarized while surrounded by friends in Saints gear, including two "bishops."
Despite the stakes, humorous taunts and excited laughter revealed the kindred spirits evident in this good-natured rivalry. As an inter-conference matchup, the teams do not meet regularly. This game being only the 15th time they played each other in 51 years, the Saints fan experience carried much less tension than that of a deep-seeded regional NFC South rivalry such as the Atlanta Falcons.
Keeping Up With the Joneses
This was best exemplified by Shawn and Shawanda Jones, both thoroughly enjoying the pre-game festivities. As a Raiders-loyal husband and Saints-fan wife couple, they find the fun in their "mixed marriage."
"I did not know he was a Raiders fan when we met at a Christmas Party," NOLA-native Shawanda admits. "I've been a Saints fan since we were wearing paper bags over our heads—way back. But he only roots against the Saints when we play the Raiders."
"And I am undefeated in my house," Shawn notes. Born in Baton Rouge, he explains his seemingly disloyal, far-flung fandom as "it was all about who was winning."
Raiders Nation
"I was seven years old and there were only a couple teams that dominated—and Saints wasn't one of them," Shawn Jones explained. "In 1977. The [Oakland] Raiders won Super Bowl XI [Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14], and that's been my team ever since."
And that is truly an impressive thing about the Raiders fan base: it defines loyalty. Similar to the Dodgers defection from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, fans stick with this team beyond borders. While many fans have expressed their abandoning WhoDat Nation if the Saints were ever to leave the state, Raiders fans not only have remained tried and true between rival cities, their loyalty now persists between states. Are there any Jazz basketball fans, or even Hornet fans that demonstrate that kind of dedication en masse? But if not for the civic pride of a "Home Town Team," then why?
"Once a Raider, always a Raider—loyal to my team no matter where they travel," affirmed Los Angeles native Celestino Espinoza in town for the game with a group of friends wearing silver and black.
Let the Game Begin
Whether it was the spectacular sunny 70-degree day outside the enclosed dome, the losing records of the two teams, or Halloween weekend, many seats inside Ceasar's Superdome were open throughout the stadium when rising star Skylar Stecker belted out a rendition of The National Anthem with a powerful voice that was reminiscent of Whitney Houston's iconic 1991 Super Bowl performance.
New Orleans asserted their hometown advantage by taking the field in black jerseys while the visiting Vegas was relegated to the white.
Andy Dalton started as the Saints quarterback, Taysom Hill replaced him for a series of plays in the first quarter to advance the ball, allowing Dalton to return for a three-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara. Followed by the extra point by Will Lutz, the Saints took an early 0-7 lead.
Thwarted plays and blocked passes by Las Vegas had Raiders fans roaring, and it was quickly clear that there may have been more silver than gold amid the black-clad crowd.
The Lutz-Kamara show continued into the second quarter when Lutz kicked a field goal, shortly followed with a scored Karmara touchdown (barely breaking the plane). Lutz threaded the uprights once again, going into the half 0-17, and never looked back.
"Raiders fans are thoroughly depressed," said Martin.
To bolster spirits, the marching band from Grambling State University played an impressive the halftime show.
The musical interlude did not help the Las Vegas team however, and pain on the field continued until the 0-24 final. Now, their 3-5 record keeps New Orleans in contention for a possible playoff berth, if the Saints are able to win a lot more games than they have for the rest of the season. Who Dat Nation is behind them all the way.
New Orleans fans were happy to stay alive another day. Discouraged Las Vegas fans managed to find solace in the welcoming and empathetic open doors of the French Quarter and other city saloons to drink their sorrows away and party until dawn. Which many did.
"I have to say, the Saints fans have treated us incredibly well," said Espinoza, finding post-game solace with his group of fans in an elegant Bourbon Street lounge well after dark.
On to week nine and Baltimore.
