Silver And Black Pride
No one cares about special teams unless something goes terrific or horrific.
For the Las Vegas Raiders, it was the latter.
Daniel Carlson’s 54-yard go-ahead field goal attempt with 38 seconds left on the clock was blocked by Chicago Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell — who arrived sprinting from the edge with a perfectly-timed leap with outstretched arms — and the dumbfounded look on the Raiders’ kicker and punter AJ Cole III (who serves as the holder on Carlson’s field goal attempts) said it all: The Silver & Black gave this one away.
That great play by Blackwell preserved Chicago’s 25-24 lead boosting the Bears to .500 on the year at 2-2 while the Raiders fell to 1-3. The shellshocked look Las Vegas’ kicker and punter is a universal thing in the locker room as the team is once again left searching for answers in a game it could’ve easily won.
It likely didn’t help that Allegiant Stadium erupted in cheers as it was a 50/50 house of both Raiders and Bears fans.
The defeat wasted rookie running back Ashton Jeanty’s monster game in a get-right contest — 138 yards rushing on 21 carries, including a 64-yard breakaway touchdown and two touchdown catches — and defensive end Maxx Crosby playing out of his mind — five total tackles, three stops for loss, three pass deflections, and an interception.
And the disconcerting loss falls heavily on the shoulders of quarterback Geno Smith, who threw a trio of interceptions that gave Chicago the ball in Raiders territory.
Perhaps Las Vegas should count itself fortunate that Bears head coach and offensive play caller Ben Johnson wasn’t at the top of his game alongside his team not executing to its fullest Otherwise, a one-point loss may have been worse.
The Bears offense started on the Raiders’ 24-yard line after the first interception; again on the 24 on the second pick; and on Las Vegas’ 40-yard line on the third takeaway. And Chicago only scored 13 points — two field goals and a touchdown after those turnovers.
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as Jeanty smoked the Bears defense on his 64-yard scamper and the blur Blackwell was when he blocked the go-ahead field goal:
—Crosby’s tip drill interception was the first of his career. The concentration he showcased on that takeaway along with terrorizing Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was a sight to behold. The Raiders defense’s lone sack of the afternoon was Tyree Wilson dropping Williams for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter to force a Chicago punt.
—Smith’s low throw to rookie wideout Dont’e Thornton Jr. that resulted in an incompletion turned into a field goal to give Las Vegas a brief 24-19 lead. Had the throw been on target, a catch at the goal line by Thornton could’ve been a much-needed touchdown and a potential 28-19 advantage. The little things can cost a team big.
—The trio of interceptions against Chicago gives Smith a tally of seven picks thrown on the...
