NEW ORLEANS>> Aidan O’Connell and the Las Vegas Raiders played with a lot of energy — and looked pretty sharp — for a last-place team that had every excuse to be sluggish and sleep-deprived.

O’Connell passed for two touchdowns, tight end Brock Bowers broke two rookie NFL records, and the Raiders won for just the fourth time this season, 25-10 over the struggling New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The convincing victory came after flight delays so long on Saturday that players didn’t get into their New Orleans hotel until after midnight — less than 12 hours before kickoff. “These guys didn’t blink, flinch,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said with a satisfied grin. “We got in at 1 o’clock in the morning, got up this morning and rolled.”

Bowers’ seven catches for 77 yards gave him 108 receptions for 1,144 yards this season, eclipsing Mike Ditka’s 1961 rookie tight end mark of 1,067 yards receiving and Puka Nacua’s 2023 mark of 105 catches by a rookie at any position. Bowers also surpassed Darren Waller’s franchise mark of 107 receptions in a season.

Ameer Abdullah rushed for 115 yards for the Raiders (4-12).

With former Raiders QB Derek Carr unable to suit up for the Saints (5-11) because of his injured left, non-throwing hand, rookie Spencer Rattler received his fifth career start. He remained winless as a starter after completing 20 of 36 passes for 218 yards and one TD with two interceptions.