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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made the game-winning play in the final minutes of his debut with the franchise to secure the victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High during their 2023 NFL Season Opener.
Garoppolo, 31, picked up a new set of downs after rushing past the defense on 3rd & 7 with less than two minutes left to play in the game and Raiders leading 17-16.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton only had one timeout left at that point, so the visitors managed to beat him in his debut.
He started the game with an onside kick instead of a regular kickoff, and nearly got away with it, but one of his players touched the ball before it crossed the line.
Garoppolo threw for 200 yards and a touchdown on 20-for-26 completed es, but had one interception.
Jimmy Garoppolo still outplays Russell Wilson
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers caught both touchdown es from Garoppolo to go with 81 receiving yards. Davante Adams, meanwhile, had just 66 receiving yards on six catches.
Despite the INT, Garoppolo did enough to outplay Broncos QB Russell Wilson, who did not throw any picks.
Wilson, 34, is coming off the worst season of his career, but looked better with Payton on the sidelines. Still not good enough, though.
He threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns on 27-for-34 completions. Raiders visit the Buffalo Bills next Sunday.