Forcing a punt, then getting a timely interception in the end zone, and forcing another punt, the Las Vegas Raiders defense bent but didn’t break in the first half against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.
And at halftime, all the Silver & Black yielded in terms of points was a record-breaking 68-yard field goal from Cam Little. With 6-3 lead in hand, things looked on the up-and-up.
However, looks can be deceiving.
That quick field goal drive (a minute and 36 seconds to be exact) was one of of six-straight consecutive drives by the Jaguars that resulted in points (two field goals and three touchdowns the rest of the way) to help pave the way for Jacksonville’s 30-29 overtime win in Allegiant Stadium.
When the Jaguars needed it most, they had their way with the Raiders defense going 9-of-16 on third downs and 3-for-3 on fourth downs. Jacksonville also outgained Las Vegas 151 to 57 on the ground to play bully ball.
“Well, count up how many third and ones they had. Was it four of them? It just like blankets that don’t fit. They had three sneaks or something like that, and they had a couple fourth down sneaks as well. They did a really good job there, but the point is getting out of those short yard situations,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said after the game. “That happened again to us. I think we talked about that last time out that you’ve got to stay out of those situations, and that we have to be better on second down so that doesn’t happen. We went into this with that thought, and we didn’t get that accomplished. It was directly addressed. We went after it, and we weren’t able to make it happen. That’s a whole lot different than third and sixes and sevens and eights. The numbers can kind of mislead you a little bit.”
What’s not misleading: The Raiders inability to tackle properly. There were plenty of whiffs on Sunday on both defense and special teams and, for a defensive-minded head coach leading the way, that’s egregious. It often appears like Las Vegas doesn’t practice physically tackling and on game days, it’s going for big collisions and blasts instead of wrapping up and bringing the ball carrier down. Either the coaching staff can’t teach or players can’t retain and execute. Or a combination of both?
And it’s no surprise to see the Jaguars systematically bludgeon the Raiders in overtime. After getting an electric 54-yard kick return from wide receiver Austin Trammell, Jacksonville ran the ball nine times, passing only once, to get the 44 yards needed to hit paydirt on a jumping and extending of the ball quarterback sneak from Trevor Lawrence.
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as the Jaguars went up and down the field:
—Credit where credit is due: Las Vegas’ offense had Jacksonville’s defense heads spinning, too. The Raiders passing attack dropped 274 yards the Jaguars with tight end Brock Bowers doing the most damage with 12 receptions for 127 yards an three touchdowns. Each of Bowers’ touchdowns were electrifying. Running back Ashton Jeanty caught the other touchdown, totaling five catches for 47 yards.
—Raiders quarterback Geno Smith finished with four touchdown throws going 29 of 39 for 284 yards. He did absorb two sacks and threw an untimely interception. But he got the ball to Bowers and Jeanty to keep the Raiders neck-and-neck with the Jaguars.
—Jeanty galloped for just 42 yards on 13 carries (3.2 yards per carry average). But no other Raiders tailbacks got a tote. Smith finished with five carries for nine yards while Bowers finished with one tote for six. Flip it and the Jaguars handed the ball to running back Travis Etienne Jr. 22 times for 84 yards while rookie Bhayshal Tuten got nine totes for 29 yards and a touchdown. Lawrence carried the ball nine times for 24 yards and two scores.
—Speaking of Lawrence, he came into the game with an illness and finished with a Smith-like 23 of 34 for 220 yards, no touchdowns, and in interception performance. In fact, the Jacksonville quarterback’s end zone interception — thrown right to Las Vegas safety Isaiah Pola-Mao for the turnover — was very Smith-esque as it was an errant throw Raiders fans have seen plenty from their own signal caller.
—On the failed two-point conversion to win the game, the Raiders had the perfect play call as Smith had familiar target and wide receiver Tyler Lockett wide open behind the Jaguars defense, but Jackonville’s DaVon Hamilton swatted the pass down like a pesky mosquito. It was there for Las Vegas, but Jacksonville simply wanted it more and made a great defensive play.
Quotes of Note:
“No, obviously frustrating that we were kind of mixing it up. We were trying zone, we were trying man, we were blitzing, we were playing four-man rush. I mean, we’re mixing it up pretty good and credit those guys, Geno (Smith) and Brock Bowers and those guys, their skill players I thought played a really good game. J Lew (Jourdan Lewis) goes down, what first shot of the game, or whatever it was, and Jarrian (Jones) steps in. We’re doubling Brock, we’re playing zone, we’re blitzing. It was an old roller coaster game, the emotions, we tried to just stay level-headed.”
—Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen on trying everything to slow down the Raiders offense, namely tight end Brock Bowers.
“It’s not a great feeling. You want to come back in here and celebrate with the guys. It kind of sucks. You can’t really celebrate anything.”
—Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers on how it feels to set a career-high in single-game touchdowns but not getting the win
“They were in a three weak, we knew they would be in three weak, that’s their call down there. We had the alert that we wanted, had the play. Chip (Kelly) called a great play. Got the alert we wanted. They reacted how we wanted, Tyler Lockett’s open in the back of the end zone. We’d win the game if the guy (DaVon Hamilton) didn’t jump up and tip the ball. Hats off to him, he made the play.”
—Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith on the failed two-point conversion
Up Next:
There’s not rest for the weary for Las Vegas as they have a short week to gear up for a Thursday night clash with the Denver Broncos. And on the road, no less. The AFC West-leading Broncos (7-2) edged the Houston Texans 18-15 on Sunday to remain atop the division. You can get Denver wants to keep it that way as the Los Angeles Chargers remain in second at 6-3 with a 27-20 victory on Sunday while the Kansas City Chiefs lost and are 5-4.
