Just four games into the 2025 campaign, the Las Vegas Raiders dug themselves into quite the turnover-takeaway hole at 10 giveaways while taking the ball away from the opposition just four meager times.
In that timeframe, there were three- and four-turnover outings in Week 2 and Week 4 losses to the Los Angeles Chargers (20-9) and Chicago Bears (25-24), respectively.
Since then, however, the Raiders staunched the bleeding.
That turnover/takeaway ratio now sits at 14-10, thanks in large part to single-digit giveaways since Week 5. While the Silver & Black’s overall record is still basura at 2-7 overall, quelling costly turnovers — especially for a Las Vegas squad that has to play perfect or close to it due to inconsistency and ineffectiveness, as evidenced by scoring less than 10 points four times this year — keeping possession while creating sudden change with takeaways is mission critical for the back half of the season.
Just last week, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly’s pair of interceptions off quarterback Bo Nix helped the Raiders stonewall the Denver Broncos offense, and although the end result was a 10-7 road loss, it showed how competitive and how sweaty the Silver & Black can render the opposition. A tale as old as time, really: The team that doesn’t cough up the ball while taking it away from the opponent tends to win ballgames.
“It’s great. Again, youth, experience, it’s how they perform on Sundays and Thursdays and this week, Monday. It’s how they perform. So again, whether they’re a rookie or 10-year vet, it’s how you perform ,” Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said when asked about Kelly’s two interceptions and how encouraging it is to see younger players starting to develop. “And these guys, for their whole lives, they’ve seized the opportunity in different stages of their career. I was happy to see him go get the ball and seize the moment, and then to get two that was pretty impressive.
“But we have a tough task ahead of us with Dallas, really good quarterback, one of the best in the league. Skill group’s outstanding. So, every week is a reset. Luckily, we get a few extra days this week.”
Kelly is one of two Las Vegas defenders with multiple takeaways as safety Isaiah Pola-Mao also has two interceptions on the season. Linebacker Devin White has an interception and forced fumble that was recovered by a teammate. And edge rusher Maxx Crosby also has a pick. Defensive tackles Thomas Booker and Adam Butler each have a fumble recovery as does defensive end Tyree Wilson.
Graham made it abundantly clear what he wants to see from his defense from here on in: “Again, Sunday, want the wins than losses, and that’s the most important thing,” he said. “I’m real proud of the process in terms of how those guys went through the week. And they saw some success out there on the field. We just got to win. That’s what we got to do. We got to do whatever it takes to win. So, that’s where we’re at.”
Offensively, Geno Smith remains the biggest turnover culprit with 12 interceptions on the season. Heading into Sunday’s action, that was second only behind Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who has 13. The two AFC signal callers have flip flopped for most interceptions thrown throughout the year.
While Smith won’t admit it, it’s difficult not to see the veteran seem gun shy after so many sudden-change possessions after his interceptions. And that’s resulted in holding the ball too long, throwing it too early, and that’s led to sacks and incompletions. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly knows missteps in execution and play calling has hindered the Silver & Black.
“We’re talking about eliminating a drop, talking about eliminating a penalty, we’re talking about holding up better in protection, being able to get the ball out a little bit quicker. And it’s a fine line in this game, and we’re three plays away from whatever, I don’t know what our record is now, you’re a five win team and you’re battling,” Kelly explained. “We missed two field goals and a two point conversion, but the game is that close. Every week is a battle. That’s the beauty of the league, and the competitive nature of the league, is you can’t make those mistakes and expect that you’re going to be successful. So, we got to continue to correct them, and we got to be able to make sure that it’s the defense that’s stopping us; it’s not us stopping us.”
Flipping the turnover-takeaway ration goes a long way in what Kelly and the Raiders want to happen.
Quotes of Note
“So a lot of it, as we talk to our team about, is just not the self inflicted wounds. The defense is going to make plays. These defenses in this league are really, really good, but it’s the penalties, it’s the drops, it’s the turnovers that really hurt you on the offensive side of the ball, and those are things that we have to clean up. And that’s on us, that’s nothing that we can say, ‘Hey, they did a good job’ If we don’t get our hands where they’re supposed to be and they’re outside the framework of the body and you’re corralling somebody, then they’re going to call a hold. Or do we line up in the right formations? All those things are things that right now, because of some of the injuries and where we are and you’re really kind of thin, we can’t afford to hurt ourselves. And that’s, I think, in a lot of those drive situations, that’s what’s been happening to us.”
—Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly when about his offense being held to under 10 points four times this season and why it’s hard for the team to score.
“Again, not trying to be a jerk or anything. All I care about is winning. All those dudes care about is winning. Win. So, am I proud how they did sudden change? Yes. Am I proud when they made stops? Yes. But to a man, and again, you all can ask them, and if I’m wrong, I’m wrong, all they care about is winning. That’s it. Just got to win.”
—Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when asked how satisfying is it to see his defense step up against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos the last two weeks.
Monday night’s clash marks the 14th time the Raiders and Cowboys go toe-to-toe. The Silver & Black lead the overall series 7-6 (all regular season games) with the Raiders winning the most recent out — 36-33 in overtime — on Daniel Carlson’s 29-yard boot on Thanksgiving Day in 2021. Before that, the Cowboys won three-straight matchups from 2009 to 2017. And the Raiders won the previous three from 1998 to 2005.
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