The Las Vegas Raiders suffered a disappointing 10-7 defeat against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Thursday night, with their offense failing to support a strong defensive performance.
At one point during the game, the Raiders went through seven consecutive possessions without securing a first down, marking the longest such streak in the NFL this season. This lack of offensive production drew criticism, including a pointed remark from former Raiders offensive lineman Richie Incognito, who tweeted, “Offensive play-calling is a joke,” leaving many to wonder which team he was referring to.
The defense, led by a formidable unit even without star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, held the Broncos in check. However, the Raiders” offense could not capitalize on this effort, marking the third time this season they failed to score in double digits.
Injuries have plagued the Raiders, particularly on the offensive line. With left tackle Kolton Miller already sidelined, the loss of guards Jackson Powers-Johnson and Dylan Parham during the game severely limited their ability to establish a ground game. The team managed just 74 rushing yards on 25 carries, and quarterback Geno Smith was sacked six times, further complicating their offensive strategy.
Despite coach Pete Carroll“s intentions to target star tight end Brock Bowers, Smith only looked his way three times, indicating a lack of opportunities. Carroll acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong team like the Broncos, stating, “I made it a point to our guys that this was a great opportunity to go in there and handle all of that.” Unfortunately, they fell short.
Smith”s performance was underwhelming, completing 16 of 26 passes for 143 yards with one interception. He also sustained a quad injury early in the fourth quarter but insisted on finishing the game despite his discomfort.
The struggles extended to the special teams, where kicker Daniel Carlson missed a critical 48-yard field goal attempt in the high altitude of Denver, compounding the Raiders” woes. This followed his earlier missed extra point in a narrow overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and a blocked potential game-winner against the Chicago Bears.
“He has to kick that,” Carroll remarked on Carlson”s miss. “I know it kills him not to. He wants to make every one of those.” The team had also suffered a blocked punt that led to the Broncos” decisive field goal, highlighting a trend of self-inflicted mistakes.
The Raiders” inability to support their defense with offensive production and special teams blunders has resulted in a dismal 2-7 record this season. As the team continues to struggle, it remains unclear when they will find a way to turn their fortunes around.
