Look, I get it.
A Week 18 preview piece that focused on special teams can be easily dismissed or scoffed at. Especially when “must be on point” is used in the headline.
Yet, Daniel Carlson’s 60-yard go-ahead and eventual game-winning field goal belabors the importance of quality special teams as the Las Vegas Raiders edged the visiting Kansas City Chiefs 14-12. The win snapped a horrendous 10-game losing skid as the Silver & Black finish the 2025 campaign 3-14 overall.
Oh, and the kicker (pun intended):
The Raiders own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, victory and all.
“100%. All the guys in the locker room, coaches, everybody, it’s been a tough season, and there’s no way around that,” Carlson said when asked about the morale lift a win gives the team. “But to end it like this, I think it was really cool to send everyone into offseason off on a good note. It’s just a great team win in a fun way. It stinks, but that’s the way you want to end it.”
Sunday’s finale against an AFC West foe was a game where only the most ardent of the respective fanbases (and the media beat folk) could watch beginning to end. It was a battle of two depleted teams simply trying to get across the finish line to close out respective disappointing seasons.
Kenny Pickett drew the start at quarterback for the Raiders and went 1-of-4 for three years, an interception, while adding nine yards on a scramble. That resulted in Aidan O’Connell getting the reins at quarterback and he finished 10-of-22 for 102 yards with zero touchdowns or interceptions.
The Chiefs didn’t fare any better rolling with Chris Oladokun as the starting quarterback (11-of-17 for 58 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions) before he gave way to Shane Buechele (7-of-14 for 88 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions). The duo felt the wrath of the Raiders defense as Oladokun was sacked three times while Buechele was dropped five times.
And providing a big helping hand: Much-maligned defensive end Tyree Wilson who finished with two strip sacks — one of them a safety.
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as Wilson got around the corner on his quarterback takedowns:
—With No. 1 pick secured, Las Vegas looked hellbent on getting rookie running back Ashton Jeanty to the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Jeanty churned out 87 yards on 26 carries (long of 12) to finish his initial season in the NFL with 975 yards on 266 carries with five touchdowns, along with another 346 yards and five touchdowns on 55 receptions.
—The Raiders defense racked up eight sacks. Wilson, Charles Snowden, and rookie defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway paced the group with two sacks apiece. Linebacker Devin White totaled 1.5 while defensive end Malcolm Koonce finished with half a sack.
—Las Vegas accounted for 14 quarterback hits while allowing five in return. Defensive tackles Thomas Booker IV and Hemingway led the Raiders with three apiece. Wilson, White, Snowden, and Koonce each finished with two quarterback hits.
—Tight end Michael Mayer was the Raiders leading pass catcher with three grabs for 47 yards. Mayer ran a clean route and hauled in an absolute 23-yard dart from O’Connell to help set up the go-ahead and eventual game-winning field goal.
—Carlson made a strong case for a new contract with Las Vegas. The soon-to-be unrestricted free agent went 4-for-4 on field goals with the 60-yard bomb being a career-long boot (third longest in Raiders history).
Quotes of Note
“I’m a free agent. This is the first time I’ve really been in this situation. Me and my family definitely pray about it, and that’s kind of where I’m at. I am extremely thankful for my time as a Raider, and if that continues, that’d be a blessing and great. We’d love to be here, but we’ll see how all those talks go. There’s no doubt I’m so appreciative of this team, the staff, the ownership, all the players that have been with me through these eight years. It’s been a joy in my life. We’ll see what the Lord has for us, but we’re excited for the future.”
—Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson who is set to to be an unrestricted free agent
“Of course. Sure. Of course I would. Nope. Nobody is talking to me about that. I haven’t said a word to anybody.”
—Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll when asked if he’d like to come back and if he’s considering retirement
Up Next
A decision on Carroll and his coaching staff looms. And for many, “Black Monday” — dubbed as such as NFL teams usually make or announce coaching changes the Monday after the regular season finale — can’t come soon enough. There’s a large sect of Raider Nation that wouldn’t have minded it being “Black Sunday” instead and Carroll’s dismissal announced the same day Las Vegas ends its 2025 campaign.
