When I wrote: “You can’t spell “incompetent” without Pete” seven games into the Las Vegas Raiders 2025 campaign, it was dubbed by some as too harsh.
That column was written after the Silver & Black went into they bye week off a 31-0 shellacking by the Kansas City Chiefs and, despite a valiant effort out of the hiatus (30-29 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars), Pete Carroll’s Raiders have dropped five-straight games with Sunday’s 24-10 lopsided home loss to the Cleveland Browns.
At 2-9 overall,
is that opening line to my column “too harsh” or about right?
Because 11 games into the 2025 season, these Carroll-led Raiders are still stumbling along, making mistakes that should be reserved for preseason and the first four weeks of the regular season, incompetent surely sums up this football team.
“You mentioned execution by players. John McKay was once asked, ‘What do you think your team’s execution? He said, ”The execution is that I think it’s a good idea.” But I never did really understand how he was willing to say that, but I just did it,” Carroll jokingly said when asked who is at fault at the team’s lack of execution. “So anyway, we have to execute better. We have to match up better. We have to do a lot of things better to get the kind of play we need. And so, we’re looking at us in practice, and we’re able to do it there. We’ve got to carry it to the games, and the teams are out there playing, too.”
Forgive Carroll for joking. Because after all, that’s what his football team is: A joke.
Paced by pass rushing phenom Myles Garrett, Browns dropped Raiders quarterback Geno Smith 10 times highlighting (or lowlighting) Carroll’s decision to make his son Brennan the offensive line/run game coordinator heading into this 2025 campaign.
Overall, Las Vegas’ offense couldn’t do much other than give rookie running back Ashton Jeanty the ball — 17 caries for 50 yards (2.9 yards per carry average), eight receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown as Smith ended up 30 of 44 for 285 yards with that lone score and — gasp! — no interceptions.
The Raiders defense did have its moments. Such as an interception from edge rusher Charles Snowden and defensive end Malcolm Koonce showing the pre-ACL-injury burst and closing speed on a sack. Las Vegas star pass rusher led the team with eight total tackles and a game-high five tackles for loss.
But with the offense unable to stay on the field, Chip Kelly’s group sure looked like the Tom Walsh/John Shoop 2006 offense.
Cleveland, meanwhile, wasn’t without it’s own brain farts, however. This long pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is humorously repeat-worthy:
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as this game got out of hand for Las Vegas:
—Sanders wasn’t spectacular against the Raiders defense finishing 11 of 20 for 209 yards with one touchdown and interception. The rookie quarterback was also sacked once. But the Colorado product did showcase a live arm and stayed on his feet sans that one takedown he absorbed.
—Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins finished with two touchdowns on 16 carries and 47 yards. Both of his end zone visits arrived in the first quarter and would be the duo of touchdowns scored until the fourth quarter.
—Veteran receiver Tyler Lockett paced the Raiders air attack with four receptions for a game-high 62 yards. His 15.5 yards per catch average also led the Silver & Black. Tight end Brock Bowers added six catches for 55 yards while veteran Ian Thomas hauled in four passes for 36 yards.
—Garrett powered the Browns pass rush with three sacks while defensive tackle (and former Raider) Maliek Collins racked up 2.5. Linebacker Devin Bush and defensive ends Isaiah McGuire and Cameron Thomas had one apiece. Mike Hall Jr, Shelby Harris (another former Raider), and Jerome Baker each had half a sack.
—Browns rookie running back Dylan Sampson snared Sanders’ first-career passing touchdown on a screen pass. Sampson showcased the speed and vision to weave past traffic and leave the Raiders defense in the dust.
Quotes of Note:
“At this point, you know you’re not playing for the playoffs, which is unfortunate, but you’ve just got to keep showing up every day, positive attitude and keep working. We work all year to have 17 opportunities, that’s all you can do. You can cry and moan, and it is what it is. At this point you play for the love of the game, and we’re in the NFL, nothing’s guaranteed. Tomorrow’s not guaranteed for anybody, so you should keep showing and keep working.”
—Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby summing up the 2-9 Raiders season so far
“It’s definitely super frustrating. Everyone’s trying as hard as they can, obviously, no one here is BS-ing and stuff. Everyone wants to win so bad, and it’s just not coming together on game day.”
—Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers on the frustration of things not translating from practice to gamedays
Up Next:
The Raiders are set to hit the road and face the Los Angeles Chargers for Round 2 of their AFC West divisional matchups. The Bolts (7-4 overall) come off their bye week heading into this Week 13 matchup in SoFi Stadium. The division rivals initially met in Week 2 this season with Los Angeles zapping Las Vegas 20-9. It was a contest where Smith threw three interceptions while getting sacked thrice.
