The Las Vegas Raiders have played 10 games under Pete Carroll and they are not getting better.
In fact, they are getting worse.
It wasn’t fired special teams coach Tom McMahon’s fault. It isn’t that they are just a few tweaks from winning close games.
They are lousy across the board and Monday night’s home game was another glaring example of it in a 33-16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas, which improved to 4-5-1 with the win, totally dominated Las Vegas in every phase.
Things were so bad the Cowboys took a knee with two and half minutes to go. That is rare. Of course, this is the second time it has happened this season as Kansas City did it last month.
Carroll pointed out several times before the season he is used to win double-digit games in a season. If the 2-8 Raiders win their final seven games this season, they will fail to win 10 games this season. They are one loss or one Denver Broncos win from being eliminated in the AFC West and it’s 10 days before Thanksgiving.
The Raiders have lost five games by double digits and four by, at least, 17 points. This team is not competing.
This was another listless performance by Las Vegas in front of another dominant visiting-team crowd at Allegiant Stadium. Part owner Tom Brady was in the house for this one and he couldn’t have been pleased.
The Raiders are going nowhere fast with Carroll, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and quarterback Geno Smith all sticking out as glaring problems who probably shouldn’t be brought back in 2026.
Let’s look at some key aspects of the game:
Abandoned the run:
Kelly threw the run game out the window very early. Smith dropped back to play 32 times and the Raiders had three planed runs in the first half. That’s incredible. In the end, Las Vegas had 42 passes and 12 runs. Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick, had seven yards on six rush attempts. The Cowboys entered this game allowing 143 yards rushing a game and the Raiders didn’t try to run the ball. What is Kelly doing?
Bad night for pass defense:
A week after allowing 10 points to a Denver offense that struggled, the Raiders’ def was exposed badly be a strong passing offense Dak Prescott threw for four touchdowns and Dallas wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens tied with the Raiders’ defensive backs. The Raiders defense has allowed, 30 or more points in five games and in three of the past four games.
Big debut for Quinnen Williams:
Dallas defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had 1.5 sacks and seven pressures in his first game since being traded from the New York Jets. Williams dominated the Raiders. Next the Raiders’ battered offensive line has to deal with Cleveland superstar pass-rusher Myles Garrett, who has 10 sacks in his past three games.
Draft-pick game:
The Raiders host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in a game featuring two 2-8 teams. Shedeur Sanders is expected to start his first game in what the draftniks will be paying close attention to. The Raiders are currently slotted to draft sixth in the first round in 2026.
Huge turnover:
Raiders’ star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby had a strip sack of Dak Prescott in the first quarter and it was recovered by rookie defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway. Crosby has 119 tackles for loss since entering the NFL in 2019. It’s the most in the league in that time period. It set up a Raiders’ field goal as they took a 3-0 lead.
New-look offensive line:
Well, with Jackson Powers-Johnson out (possibly for the year), it wasn’t Alex Cappa or Caleb Rogers playing for him at right guard. Instead, the Raiders moved center Jordan Meredith to right guard and inserted Will Putnam at center. It will be interesting to see if this is the plan moving forward. But it was a rough nights. Smith as sacked four times and was under constant pressure.
Kelly back as a starter:
Kyu Blu Kelly was starting at cornerback again. Rookie Dairen Porter started the past two games. Kelly did have two interceptions in Week 10 at Denver.
Lamb and Pickens don’t start:
Lamb and Pickens didn’t play on the opening drive because a reported coach’s decision. The Cowboys went three-and-out on the drive. They did play on the second drive.
No go for Rogers:
Last week, Raiders’ third-round draft pick Caleb Rogers made it sound as if he would be making his first start, playing for an injured Powers-Johnson. Yet, Rogers is inactive for the 9th time in 10 games. It is also worth noting the Raiders elevated Atonio Mafi from the practice squad. Thus, the team feels better about him than their Day Two pick. Not great.
Snowden starts:
Defensive end Charles Snowden started over Malcolm Koonce. Snowden got a lot of play time and delivered at Denver.
No booth for Brady:
Brady attended his second Raiders’ Monday night game of the season. Unlike in Week 2, Brady was not in the coach’s box with a head set on. That caused a quite a stir. This time, ESPN cameras found Brady hanging out in a suite.
Another good start for defense:
The Raiders forced yet another three-and-out to start the game. The Raiders have forced a three-and-out on the opening drive a league-high seven times and six of the past seven games. They’ve been good early.
Honoring Kneeland:
The Raiders honored late Dallas player Marshawn Kneeland by wearing shirts to alert people to call a suicide prevention hotline. Kneeland committed suicide earlier this month at the age of 24. This was Dallas’ first game since his death. Dallas players also wore pre-game T-shirts to honor Knneland and the team had a locker made for him at Allegiant Stadium.
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