As temps drop in Las Vegas, for another season, so is the Raiders’ record.
The Silver & Black fell short in front of a national audience on Monday night flop against the Dallas Cowboys. The 33-16 loss marks Vegas’ fourth straight loss as the team drops to 2-8 on the season.
While Pete Carroll’s squad carried a 6-3 lead after a 1st quarter highlighted by a Maxx Crosby strip sack, the flood gates opened in the 2nd when Patrick Graham’s defense allowed 21 points over three Cowboys offensive drives.
Chip Kelly’s offense didn’t have the ammo to climb out of a 24-9 halftime hole. The Raiders ended up totaling 236 total yards, a stark contrast to Dallas’ 381. Star rookie running back Ashton Jeanty only totaled 7 rushing yards on just six carries as Las Vegas was in catch-up mode.
Quarterback Geno Smith finished 27/42 for 238 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Tight end Brock Bowers led Vegas with 7 receptions for 72 scoreless yards.
The Raiders’ shorthanded offensive line struggled to contain a Dallas defensive line that featured former New York Jets star Quinnen Williams playing his first game as a Cowboy.
With 2024 undrafted free agent Will Putnam making his first career start at center while Jordan Meredith kicked out to right guard to replace an injured Jackson Powers-Johnson, the Las Vegas O-line allowed four sacks and struggled to open running lanes.
The Raiders defense allowed Dak Prescott and the Cowboys to have an offensive field day. Star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens stole the show on primetime, combining for 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Raiders are now 0-3 in primetime games this season, also dropping their home opener to the Chargers on a Monday night in Week 2 and falling to the Broncos at Mile High on a Thursday night in Week 10.
The ‘Autumn Wind’ hasn’t picked up speed in Pete Carroll’s first season as head coach, the Raiders being a distant 4th in the AFC West and being already practically eliminated from playoff contention.
However, locker room leaders like star defensive end Maxx Crosby insist that the team must stick together through all 17 games and finish the season strong.
“Cultures are going to change with different coaches but ultimately it’s about winning,’ Crosby told Vegas Sports Today’s Nick Walters after Monday’s loss. “I know everybody in this locker room is trying to win. Whatever that is, we got to find that.”
‘The coaching staff has done a really good job of keeping them together, keeping everyone on the right track,” Bowers said when comparing last year’s 4-13 season to this season. “Everyone’s still confident in the game plans and moving forward.”
“We’re not independent contractors,” safety Isaiah Pola-Mao said. “This is our job at the end of the day. People got to take pride in that and stay together.”
The Raiders will look to get back in the win column when they host Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, November 23.
Despite it being a battle of 2-8 teams, there will be added national intrigue to the game as rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders is expected to make his first career start with Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol.
