MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- To paraphrase the immortal words of Herm Edwards, of course the main goal of playing the game is to win it.
But you could not have blamed Brock Bowers for the sly smile that crept across his face in the aftermath of the Las Vegas Raiders' 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
After all, Bowers had just set an NFL record for most receptions in a game by a rookie tight end. His 13 catches on 16 targets for a career-best 126 yards and a 23-yard catch-and-run touchdown highlighted a pseudo-new-look offense under interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner, who had his father, longtime NFL playcaller Norv, sitting at his side in the press box for the game.