Jimmy Garoppolo solves Las Vegas Raiders problem in first game of season

12 September 2023 , 14:22

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Jimmy Garoppolo impressed in his first game for the Las Vegas Raiders (Image: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams has explained the difference Jimmy Garoppolo has already made to the team.

Garoppolo is the new starting quarterback for the Raiders after signing a three-year deal worth $65 million (£52 million) as an unrestricted free agent during the off-season. He replaced Derek Carr, who left to join the New Orleans Saints and Garoppolo made the perfect start to his NFL career in Nedava.

The Raiders claimed a 17-16 win over their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos, on Sunday fuelled by a late fourth-quarter comeback spearheaded by the new QB. Garoppolo completed 20-of-26 passes in the game with two touchdowns and 200 total passing yards with one interception.

Garoppolo’s rival quarterback, Russell Wilson, enjoyed a similar game for the Broncos. Wilson completed 27-of-24 passes for 177 total passing yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

In the end, it was Garoppolo and the Raiders who emerged victorious in the AFC West matchup on Sunday. And one Raiders star believes the impact of Garoppolo’s arrival is already being seen.

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Adams is playing in his second season with the Raiders after leaving the Green Bay Packers in 2022. The veteran wide receiver believes that Garoppolo’s impact on the game against the Broncos is clear based on what he thinks would have happened last season.

"This type of game was the difference in our season last year, just finishing," Adams told ESPN. "They say you're trash when you don't, we finish these and then they talk a lot different about you, regardless of what it took to get there, if it was ugly or not."

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels, and Garoppolo's former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, echoed the comments from Adams by highlighting the impact Garoppolo has had on the roster. The veteran QB started his 10th season in the NFL, and it’s that experience that McDaniels wants to be passed on to the rest of the roster.

"He's a good leader. He's won a lot of games in this league," McDaniels told the Raiders team website.

“I think the guys in the locker room know who they have and what this guy can do, how competitive he is. He's a very good leader. He's a great communicator. Just does what it takes to win.

"Doesn't care about his statistics or anything like that, it's just, 'Whatever I can do at my position to try to help the team win, I'm going to try to do it.' Super happy that he's a Raider."

Mark Wakefield