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With signs of ‘Just Tank Baby’ being held high around various parts of Allegiant Stadium, the Las Vegas Raiders’ had their losing streak continue in primetime.
Las Vegas lost on Monday night to Atlanta, 15-9, from Allegiant Stadium. The team’s losing streak has now hit double-digits with the franchise’s 10th straight loss.
“Bad day in the office,” head coach Antonio Pierce said. “Real bad day in the office. Bottom line.”
As the recent slippage continues leads the Raiders to fall to 2-12 this year as they slide back into position for the top pick in the NFL Draft coming up in April. In addition to the ‘Just Tank’ signs, there were ‘Tank for Shedeur’ signs as well in reference to Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“It’s not about me,” Pierce said. “It’s not about the individual, it’s about the team. This is what we’ve been building on and working on since the offseason into training camp and then into the season.”
After being on the road for the last two weeks, three of the last four games of the season including Monday’s contest will be played from Allegiant Stadium. It’ll be less than a week before the next one.
Las Vegas will host Jacksonville Sunday, Dec. 22 from Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:25 p.m.
“Everybody’s dapping each other up, loving each other up,” Pierce said. “Take the day off tomorrow and get back to work. That’s a blue collar group, it just hasn’t gone our way which is now becoming transparent and redundant.”
In a season with many twists and turns, the Raiders trotted out a third starting quarterback this season. Since losing longtime starter Derek Carr, the franchise has started four different quarterbacks in the last two seasons.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew is done for the year in his first season in Silver & Black due to a broken collarbone. Fellow quarterback Aidan O’Connell has been injured twice this season but was listed as an emergency third quarterback behind starter Desmond Ridder and backup Carter Bradley.
“It’s tough being in the position that we are,” Ridder said. “We’re just searching. Searching for a win, searching for positive energy.”
Ridder made his first start with Las Vegas and would do so against the team who drafted him. In 19 games with the Falcons, Ridder posted 3,544 passing yards on a 64% completion mark to go along with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
”I thought he battled,” Pierce said. “Especially after the interception. He just got picked up, obviously he’s a fighter. It was a personal game for him.”
After conversions on fourth down and third down, Ridder had his first drive come to an end via a fumble at the hands of teammate Alexander Mattison.
Atlanta’s defense was everywhere racking up four sacks, six quarterback hits, eight passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Ridder ended the night with 208 passing yards on 23-for-39 through the air with a touchdown and two interceptions. His last interception of the night came as time expired in regulation on a Hail Mary prayer toward the end zone.
“I just needed it to come down in Silver & Black,” Pierce said. “It didn’t […[ I know we’ve got more two-minute drives in the fourth quarter than any other team in football right now but these guys find a way to keep going dog-tired.”
The Raiders defense didn’t face elite quarterback play on the other side either in facing Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. He started strong with a five-for-five start for 60 yards and a touchdown on the team’s opening drive.
That would be the lone touchdown on the night for Atlanta with the other scores coming in the form of a safety and two field goals.
Through limited pressure, Las Vegas was able to muster three sacks against Cousins. Entering Monday, Cousins was last in the league against the blitz.
Cousins’ lone mistake of the game came on the opening drive of the third quarter. Linebacker Robert Spillane picked off Cousins for his second interception of the season.
On the final offensive drive of the game for the Falcons, Spillane was whistled for roughing the passer on third down ushering in a new set of downs.
At the conclusion of that drive, the Las Vegas offense had a minute and 50 seconds to march down the field in an effort to tie and potentially win the game.
“We’re not winning,” Pierce said. “Shit, do I want to win? Hell yeah, I want to win. Do I want to sit here every week and look at the same goddamn thing and have the same discussion with y’all? Nah.
“But these guys are not budging, I’m not budging and we’ll keep chopping wood and at some point, the damn thing will break and things will go our way.”
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