The Las Vegas Raiders are hosting the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. Here is everything to need to know about the game:
First quarter
The Raiders won the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Dallas got the ball and went three and out. Las Vegas’ defense is good to start games. For some reason both Dallas’ standout wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens were not on the field for the opening drive. Reportedly, it was a coach’s decision.
On the Raiders’ first drive, Geno Smith hit star tight end Brock Bowers for an 18-yard reception on the first play of the game. He wasn’t targeted for much of the game in Week 10 at Denver. The Raiders went on to punt.
Lamb and Pickens entered the game on the Cowboys’ second drive, which started at the Cowboys own 4-yard line after another great effort for Raiders’ punter A.J. Cole.
Wow, huge turnover. Maxx Crosby with the strip sack and Tonka Hemingway recovered. Raiders’ ball on Dallas’ 15. The Raiders had to settle for a 35-yard Daniel Carlson field goal.
Raiders’ defensive tackle Jonah Laulu suffered a ribs injury.
Dallas had some chunk plays and tied the game at 3-3 with a field goal with 5:36 to go in the quarter.
The Raiders are using the play action passes well as Smith hits rookie Jack Bech for and Bowers for big plays. Las Vegas got to the Dallas 17 then the drive stalled. They settle for another Carlson field goal to make it a 6-3 game.
The Raiders have had 13 offensive plays. They have run the ball once.
Second quarter:
The Cowboys went down the field and Prescott hit Lamb for an easy 18-yard touchdown as they took a 10-6 lead.
Smith was sacked for the third time. The Raiders’ offensive line struggling. Quinnen Williams has 1.5 sacks in his first game with Dallas.
The Raiders have gone 15 straight drives without a touchdown.
Lamb and Pickens are smoking the Raiders. A Prescott touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ferguson. Dallas up 17-6.
The Raiders were driving, but then Smith threw another bad interception. He is tied for the NFL lead with 13.
Chip Kelly just isn’t running the ball.
Now, Prescott hits Pickens for a 37-yard touchdown pass. Dallas is smoking the Raiders 24-6.
The offensive line stinks, they can’t run and they are getting gutted on defense.
Smith has been pressured 10 times.
Carlson with another field goal.
Cowboys 24, Raiders 9 at halftime.
Raiders get ball to start second half.
The Raiders have thrown it 28 times and have run it four times. Good thing they drafted Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick.
Third quarter:
Prescott threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game and Dallas leads 31-9 with 6:19 to go in the quarter. Las Vegas has allowed, at least, 30 points in five games.
Dallas up 31-9 going into fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter:
Smith hit Tre Tucker for a short touchdown pass. Dallas is up 31-16 with 13:22 to go. It broke an 18-drive touchdown-less streak for Las Vegas.
The Cowboys tackle Jeanty in the end zone for a safety. Dallas up 33-16 with 10:33 to go.
The Raiders tried an onsides kick after the safety. It didn’t work.
More ugliness as this thing winds down.
Final score:
Cowboys 33, Raiders 16.
Now that the game is over, let’s take a look at the key aspects:
Team records: The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-8. The Dallas Cowboys are 4-5-1.
What the loss means for the Raiders:
This team is awful. Pete Carroll boasted how he regularly wins 10 games a season. Even if the Raiders win out, that will not happen. The Raiders will be eliminated from the AFC West division race with either a loss or a Denver win the rest of the season. The Raiders have allowed, at least, 30 points in five losses and have been beaten by double digits five times. This game could have been a lot worse.
Turning point of the game:
After missing around early, the Cowboys scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and this game was never really close.
Injury report:
Raiders’ defensive tackle Jonah Laulu suffered a ribs injury in the first quarter. He did not return.
What’s next for the Raiders:
The Raiders have another home game, on Sunday against the 2-8 Cleveland Browns and rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders his expected to make his starting debut. Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. PT.
