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Mistakes plus a stagnant offense in the early part of the game led the Las Vegas Raiders to their second three-game losing streak of the year.
The lowly Raiders sunk lower after a 25-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 13 from Allegiant Stadium.
“I’m sorry I’m emotional,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “I’m just pissed off about some of the things that a lot of us try and do just to practice, what we put our bodies through just to sleep at night. And for that to be the result of all that effort pisses me off.”
Las Vegas is 0-6 in one possession games this season.
“It starts with me,” head coach Josh McDaniels said. “We’re going to have to figure out something different to do to try to get free from these close-scores and close games or make enough plays at the end to get the win.”
McDaniels is now 13-24 as a head coach in the NFL including 2-7 this season. Indianapolis was led by interim coach Jeff Saturday, who was given the position on Monday after the team fired Frank Reich on Sunday.
“I love Josh,” Carr said, fighting back tears. “I love our coaches. They’ve had nothing but success [elsewhere], way more success than I’ve ever had.”
Fans inside of Allegiant Stadium let the team hear it early and often, sending “boo’s” raining down to the field. As McDaniels left the field, fans increased the volume of their jeers while a lone fan even launched a cup toward the tunnel after the coach had already descended toward the locker rooms.
“They’re passionate,” McDaniels said. “They’re as passionate as anybody I’ve been around and I appreciate that. Obviously, all of us that are here understand that. We have great fans and they deserve – they want better than this and I get it. They have a right to feel frustrated with the results that we’ve provided this year.”
The Raiders played in Allegiant Stadium for the first time since Oct. 23, falling to 2-2 at home this season. The next time the team will be in the building will be the first Sunday in December.
“I never take it personal,” Carr said. “I’m just the one that’s been here the longest. I had some older players that were here longer than me say, ‘Don’t worry, it’ll be your turn someday too.’”
For now, the team will turn its attention back to the road for back-to-back games. At the conclusion of the trip, Las Vegas will have played four road games in a five-week span.
A rematch with AFC West rival, Denver, is first for the team. That game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 20 with kickoff scheduled for 1:05 p.m. The Raiders beat the Broncos, 32-23, in Week 4 from Allegiant Stadium.
“We’re all proud people,” McDaniels said. “We have jobs and responsibilities and we’re going to keep fighting. There’s no other way to do that.”
A crucial mistake by linebacker Darien Butler to not fall on a fumble created by defensive back Sam Webb late in the fourth quarter led to the eventual game-winning touchdown. On the very next play, Colts quarterback Matt Ryan hit receiver Parris Campbell, who went 35 yards to the end zone on a 2nd and 9.
“There’s an awareness piece to that,” McDaniels said. “If you feel like there’s a lot of bodies around you, you certainly want to fall on the ball. If you feel like you’re in open space then you may have an opportunity to pick it up and advance it.
“I think it was more in the first category, there were some people around him – I don’t know if he saw them or felt them, I’d need to see the tape to figure that out.”
Anytime Indianapolis needed a big time play, it appeared it came at the right time. Running back Jonathan Taylor struck for a 66-yard rushing touchdown after Las Vegas had captured the lead for the first time.
In addition, the Raiders were penalized 10 times for a total of 74 yards while the interim head coach-led Colts were flagged four times for 25 yards.
“We committed some penalties offensively that obviously create a bunch of scenarios where they’re not good scenarios, McDaniels said. “Playing from 1st and 20, 2nd and 30. Anytime you do that offensively, it’s going to look poor.”
Indianapolis scored its first touchdown of the game on a drive where Las Vegas was whistled for too many men on the field the play prior. Overall, the Raiders racked up 15 penalty yards on three calls in the first quarter.
By the 12:38-mark of the second quarter, the Colts had built a 10-0 lead. The visitors later added another field goal after an illegal contact penalty on Webb to put Indy in Las Vegas territory.
On offense, the Raiders were only able to muster up five total yards in the first 15 minutes of the game which included going 0-for-5 in the passing game. Quarterback Derek Carr became the first quarterback to not complete a pass in a quarter this season with a minimum of five attempts.
“I can’t speak for everybody,” Carr said. “I know where I stand and I love the Silver & Black. I’m going to give it everything I can everytime I go out there.”
Las Vegas didn’t have its first first down of the game until there was less than 12 minutes left in the first half. Wide receiver Davante Adams caught his first pass of the game on that drive as well as the team crept into Indianapolis territory.
Running back Josh Jacobs converted on a 4th and 2 to keep the drive alive. A drive that he’d extend with a 19-yard rush into the red zone. His lone score on the day gave the Raiders its first lead of the game. Jacobs finished with 78 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown to go along with six receptions and 28 yards through the air.
Adams scored the team’s other touchdown of the day on a 48-yard snag and run on a 3rd and 10. He finished with 126 yards on nine receptions.
HIs score gave the Raiders a 20-19 lead after a failed two-point conversion. In fact, there were three failed two-point attempts in this game, two by the Colts.
Carr targeted Adams via a back shoulder fade route on the final offensive play facing 4th and 7.
“I mean, we played behind the sticks as usual,” Adams said. “That’s how we’ve played and that’s when we don’t have success on offense. Holding penalties, just a bunch of bullshit that doesn’t allow you to move the ball and have realistic shots at converting.
“And that’s where we’ve lived a lot of this year and that’s what happened.”
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