Raiders’ Turmoil in Loss to Broncos
It was quite the night for Las Vegas on Thursday.
After a disheartening 10-7 defeat to the Broncos, emotions ran high on the Raiders’ sideline. This was one of those games you just don’t want to relive, especially given their lackluster offensive showing.
With a little over six minutes to go in the second quarter, and the Raiders holding a 7-0 lead, quarterback Geno Smith found himself sacked – his sixth of the night, no less. This particular incident happened on a fourth down in Broncos’ territory, leading to some visible frustration aimed at backup running back Raheem Mostert.
Smith was shown shouting at Mostert as safety Talanoa Hufanga came charging in. Mostert, unfortunately, missed the block entirely.
As the tension escalated, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett stepped in, trying to defuse the situation between Smith and Mostert. It’s interesting—seeing a quarterback catch the heat while another tries to keep the peace. Very real moment.
Once on the field, Pickett, unfortunately, couldn’t make a mark, as he was incomplete on his only passing attempt while Smith appeared to be dealing with an injury.
Things appeared to settle down between Smith and Mostert, though it didn’t erase concerns about the scattered offense. Las Vegas even missed a field goal in the fourth quarter, ending the game without adding to their score. Meanwhile, the Broncos survived a rough match and improved to 8-2.
Afterward, Smith acknowledged the toll the game took on him. He had, after all, absorbed five sacks in the first half alone. “I’m not feeling the best, but I hope it gets better,” he shared, referencing a quadriceps injury he sustained.
“To be a good team, you have to play cleanly… You can’t neglect your duties or nullify big plays with penalties. Turnovers? That’s what really hurts,” he added, hinting at the broader issues plaguing the team.
Now sitting at 2-7, the Raiders will have a chance—10 days, in fact—to regroup before facing off against the Dallas Cowboys on November 17th for Monday Night Football.
