Sunday was definitely the best day of the Las Vegas Raiders’ miserable 2025 season.
The day started when the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft when the New York Giants beat the Dallas
Cowboys in the early window Sunday. It’s the first time the Raiders will pick first in 19 years. The expectation is the Raiders will take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will with the pick, but they will also go through the entire draft process over the course of the next 15 weeks.
Then, in a dreadful game that looked much like an August game, the Raiders survived a wild ending to beat the Kansas City Chiefs on a 60-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson with eight seconds left to give them a 14-12 win.
The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for Las Vegas. It was the Chiefs’ first loss at Allegiant Stadium. The Chiefs were 6-0 at Allegiant Stadium since it opened in 2020. That’s includes a 2024 Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers. It also snapped a 11-game AFC West losing streak dating back to last season.
All good stuff.
Will Sunday’s good vibes chance the expected fate of first-year coach Pete Carroll? It’s been widely expected Carroll will be fired, and it may just be a matter of time. After the game, Carroll said he wants to return and denied any talk he may retire. He said he hasn’t talked to anyone about that option.
Raiders owner Mark Davis, who has been quiet this season, told the team’s website he was happy with the win but also acknowledged changes have to be done.
So, there will likely be some clarity to the situation in the coming days:
Here are some key aspects of the game:
Jeanty break scrimmage yards record:
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty broke Josh Jacobs rookie yards from scrimmage team record of 1,316. He finished with 1,321 yards from scrimmage The No. 6 overall draft pick had 321 touches in 17 games. Jacobs had 262 touches in 13 games when he was a first round pick in 2019.
O’Connell plays most of the game:
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell played the final three quarters after Kenny Pickett started with Geno Smith out. O’Connell completed 10 of 22 passes for 102 yards. Pickett completed one of four attempts for and he was intercepted once.
Is that a wrap for Kelce?
There has been a lot of speculation that Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce may retire, so Sunday may have been his final game. He had three catches for 12 yards. But he did surpass the 13,000 career receiving yards mark. He was the third tight end to accomplish the feat.
Carlson comes through big:
It was an up-and-down season for Carlson, but he came through Sunday. He had two short field goals and then boomers of 55 and 60. Carlson is a free agent. The team could look to extend him in the coming months.
Sack party:
Against a battered Kansas City offensive line, the Raiders had eight sacks. Defensive ends Tyree Wilson and Charles Snowden each had two sacks as did rookie defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway. Also, linebacker Devin White had 1.5 sacks. So, what a way to end the season.
Wilson has good game:
Raiders’ defensive end Tyree Wilson had two sacks (one for a safety) and a forced fumble. He’s been an inconsistent third season for the No. 7 overall pick in 2023. But he finished this season strong even thought it was against a fifth-string tackle. Still, don’t expect the Raiders to exercise his fifth-year option this spring, thus making him a free agent after next season.
More special teams woes:
The Raiders had a rough season on special teams in 2025. They had one big miscue after another and the issues continued in the season finale. In the second quarter, the Raiders executed a fake put, but Isaiah Pola-Mao was stopped short of the sticks, giving the Chiefs the ball at the Raiders’ 36-yard line.
Crosby in attendance:
Raiders’ star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby was at the game Sunday. He didn’t attend last week’s home game against the New York Giants after being shut down for the final two games. Now,, the question must be asked: Will Crosby be in attendance at the Raiders’ first game in 2026? It’s going to be an interesting offseason. The team announced Sunday Crosby was named the team’s Commitment to Excellence winner by his teammates for the fifth straight season.
