Raiders storm the Superdome to vanquish the Saints
Raiders fans represented in the Caesars Superdome as they always do—regardless of where their team calls home. Las Vegas fans were clearly in the Dome that New Orleanians call home.

Fans of Rivals
But the friendly rivalry between these two teams with season records that lower expectations still brought some good-natured fun, especially for rival family members and friends. Couples wearing black revealed their loyalties with flashes of gold or silver. Bolder groups proudly brandished their fleur-de-lis or pirate-patched player with crossed swords.
"Super Bowl preview?" one Raiders fan quipped to his Black-and-gold clad friend.
"In 2055, maybe," his Saints friend retorted.
"I'm a life-long Raiders fan and have never been to New Orleans." said Ken, a San Antonio resident in attendance with his Saints-fan nephew Dominic. "Coming with [Dominic] made this game an easy decision."
"I've always been a Reggie Bush fan so I became a Saints fan," said Dominic. Serving in the Air Force, he affirmed that "heading back [to San Antonio] late tonight and being at work on base tomorrow at 6 a.m. is totally worth it."

The game initially promised to be an exciting contest and the two teams put on a show. A WhoDat Nation highlight was a double-pass trick play in which Spencer Rattler connected with Foster Moreau for a 30-yard touchdown putting the New Orleans Saints ahead with a 7-3 lead. While neither team had much to lose, this matchup has turned into a bit of a low-key rivalry over the years. Even more so since the move to Las Vegas amid the pandemic in 2020. The Raiders wearing white ended the first half with a mere 10-13 lead.
But the general attitude among fans of either side was that it was a game to see which team wanted to lose more than the other. Unfortunately the answer was New Orleans.
An the Hits Keep on Coming
When the third quarter began, the Raiders stormed the field in a manner worthy of their mascot. And while the Saints had a prayer, the hometown team squandered key plays, largely with a series of offensive holding penalties—literally and linguistically—including an almost-touchdown play that was called back, extending interim-coach Darren Rizzi's season of frustration.
With the Saints falling further behind to 10-19 with 11:22 left in the fourth quarter, quarterback Spencer Rattler overthrew a pass intended receiver Cedrick Wilson, Jr. straight into the arms of the Raiders' Jack Jones with 40 years of the other team's goal.

The Raiders galvanized an unusually focused march to the goal in only 3:20 minutes with a touchdown. The mass exodus of fans intensified. After a blocked extra point—elevating the Raiders 10-25—the remaining smattering of fans were largely those in black and silver attire. Las Vegas held their lead for the remaining 8:20 left to play.
Saints injuries mounted as well, with Jaylan Ford getting hurt covering a punt, defensive end Payton Turner with an ankle injury, and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling taking a hit that took him out in the last two minutes of play. The game ended not with a bang, but a whimper as the Saints kneed out their final possession, putting themselves out of their misery, and most likely to literally stop the bleeding.
To the Victors Go the Spoils
While it was not evident at first glance since both teams' primary color is black, the enthusiastic cheers that grew louder although the Saints fans left in droves during the second half made it very clear which team won the day. And with their records, a victory by either team would be tepid at best.
Some Raiders records fell which brightened the Las Vegas day for fans who witnessed history. They got to see rookie tight end Brock Bowers breaking two rookie NFL records—seven catches for 77 yards gave him 108 receptions for 1,144 yards this season (eclipsing Mike Ditka's 1,067 yards receiving as a rookie tight end in 1961) and Puka Nacua's 105 catches by a rookie at any position in 2023. Beyond that, Bowers also topped Darren Waller's franchise record of 107 receptions in a season from 2020.

Three Raiders fans smoking celebratory cigars after the match had each picked up their team when they played in different cities. One bled back and silver as it was "in the blood" bacause one of his relatives had played for the team. Another grew up in San Diego when the Raiders were affiliated in Los Angeles, and the third "just liked them" from their Oakland years.
But with the game having the Saints dropping to a 5-11 record with one game to play and the Raiders improving to 4-12, Raiders fans reveled knowing in a season this frustrating, a win is still a win and the Raiders won the day.