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Brock Bowers already making NFL history in hot start

Down 10 points with 3 minutes and 22 seconds left in the third quarter against the Ravens, Brock Bowers showed how good he can truly be in the NFL.

It was third-and-eight at the Baltimore 28-yard line. With Gardner Minshew II lined up in shotgun formation, the Baltimore Ravens sent a four-man rush with pressure coming hot off both edges. Minshew flushed to the right side as the pocket collapsed, escaping a potential sack from defensive tackle Travis Jones.

As the quarterback scanned the field, Bowers hit a stutter step on the defensive back in coverage to streak open in stride as his quarterback was sprinting towards the sideline.

"We just reverted back to our training throughout the whole training camp and offseason," Bowers said postgame reflecting on the play. "Just knowing that when your [quarterback is] scrambling, you've got to [expletive] get open and find a way to get the job done."

Breaking free and making the catch was only half of what made it such an impressive play. After making the catch at the six-yard line, he was wrapped up by safety Marcus Williams trying to make a tackle.

But Bowers refused to go down.

He spun out of the tackle, fighting his way toward the end zone and determined to get his first NFL touchdown. He ultimately fell a yard short of the goal line, as four Ravens defenders swarmed to tackle him to the ground.

"I think he's just growing," Antonio Pierce said of Bowers."I mean, he really showed up in some critical moments for us. But what I love is the toughness, the physicality that he runs with, his play style down there, caught that ball in the third quarter and dragging the defender for a couple more yards to get us to the one-yard line. You just see that kind of energized our whole team and got him going. I think it's really huge."

The Raiders' 2024 first-round pick is on pace for a historic rookie season for a tight end. He currently leads all tight ends in targets (17), receptions (15) and receiving yards (156), while being tied for first in receiving first downs (8) and ranking third in yards after the catch (58). His 15 career receptions and 156 yards are also the most by any rookie tight end in their first two games.

"He's awesome, man. He's so good," Minshew said. "Great feel in zone, can get open in man [coverage]. Had to take a shot to him in third down, he goes and makes a huge play for us. I think he's going to be really special and we've got to continue to develop chemistry there and get him going."

Bowers and All-Pro receiver Davante Adams combined for 18 catches and 208 receiving yards against the Baltimore Ravens, becoming the first receiving tandem in franchise history to each have at least nine catches and 90 receiving yards in a game.

During minicamp, Adams revealed that his nickname for Bowers "BM" is an acronym that stands for "Business Man." The name stems from Bowers' composed, all-about-football mentality. Adams, while on the "Up & Adams" show Tuesday, even compared Bowers' potential to one of the greatest tight ends – and also a guest on the show beside him – Rob Gronkowski.

"I don't ever like to put any expectation on a young player but the type of kid that he is, he literally only cares about football," Adams said. "He showed some promise of looking like this guy that's on the screen with us right now. I don't want to do that to him or downplay what he's done because he's one of the best to ever to do it, and I totally mean that, but this young player is on a different level for a rookie and I think Baltimore got a chance to feel that a little bit."

For a second consecutive week, Bowers was nominated for Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week. While the statistics and accolades are nice for the rookie, coming away with the victory is the only thing he seems to take stock in.

"I was out there doing my job on each play and I got open a few times and that helped," Bowers said. "We just kept our head down and kept to the plan and we came here for one mission. ... It's hard to win in the NFL, so you've got to celebrate them all."

View director of photography Michael Clemens' top picks of black and white photos from the Raiders' Week 2 victory against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

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