Vikings Edge Raiders 24-23 in Preseason Opener

The Minnesota Vikings narrowly defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 24-23 in their first preseason game, with notable performances from both teams' quarterbacks. Raiders' head coach Antonio Pierce is set to name a starting quarterback after their next game against the Dallas Cowboys, evaluating both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew II, who showed potential but have not clearly pulled ahead. O'Connell completed 7-of-9 passes for 76 yards, while Minshew went 6-of-12 for 117 yards and a touchdown. For the Vikings, rookie J.J. McCarthy impressed with 188 yards and two touchdowns after Sam Darnold's brief debut marred by headset issues. The Vikings' offense showcased depth, featuring standout plays from rookies like Dallas Turner on defense. The Vikings also made strategic moves in their secondary, trading Andrew Booth Jr. to the Cowboys for Nahshon Wright and planning to bring in veteran Stephon Gilmore for added depth.