Silver And Black Pride
What was once a steadfast strength is now a leery liability.
Such is the case for the Las Vegas Raiders special teams unit. And it’s apt to question why Tom McMahon remains in charge of that group in the desert.
With two struggling offenses but impressive defenses under the primetime spotlight in the Raiders matchup with the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High Thursday night, the Silver & Black’s special teams gaffes proved to be a major difference between the two AFC West squads in Las Vegas’ 10-7 loss.
First came a blocked punt as Darren Rizzi’s Broncos punt coverage unit aggressively went after the Raiders’ AJ Cole III in the third quarter. Denver rushers overwhelmed Las Vegas blocking group and to get to Cole and block the boot and the Broncos got prime field position at the Raiders 12-yard line.
But Las Vegas’ defense stood tall, yielded on a field goal, and the Raiders only trailed 10-7. Turns out, that was the final points of the evening.
Despite the Raiders defense getting gifted an interception on another errant throw from Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and the offense doing just enough to kicker Daniel Carlson in range for a 48-yard field goal try, that went awry too. Carlson’s boot was straight and on target — just wide right of the goalpost.
“He has to kick that,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said after the game. “I know it kills him not to. He wants to make every one of those. But he has to kick that one.”
Carlson is now 12 of 16 on field goals this season and the 75 percent conversion rate so far this season marks the 30-year-old’s second lowest field goal percentage since the 2019 season where he went 19 of 26 (73.1 percent). And it’s that kind of miss — his lone opportunity in the defeat — that hurts Carlson’s chances of remaining in Silver & Black beyond this season. The Auburn product is on the final year of his current deal and his $5.15 million cap number is too high for a scattershot season.
Cole — who serves as both punter and holder for the Raiders — showcased his big and accurate leg by pinning the Broncos at their own 2-yard and 1-yard lines on two of his boots. On those particular occasions, Las Vegas’ defense forced three-and-outs. But, unlike Rizzi, McMahon couldn’t dial up a rush that could get to Denver punter Jeremy Crawshaw.
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as the Broncos swarmed to block Cole’s punt:
—Here’s an ugly stat of the evening: The combined first downs between the Raiders and Broncos tallied 20 — 10 apiece. The combined penalties? 22. 11 for 83 yards from Las Vegas. 11 for 78 yards from Denver. Both teams offenses were equally abysmal trying to combat inspired defensive efforts on third down. The Raiders were 4 of 15 while the Broncos finished 5 of 15.
**—Raiders quarterback Geno Smith was under...
