LAS VEGAS—The home opener for the Las Vegas Raiders certainly did not go the way the team intended.
On Monday, the Raiders dropped their first divisional game of the season to the Los Angeles Chargers 20-9 at Allegiant Stadium.
The Raiders suffer their first loss of the Pete Carroll era, dropping to 1-1 but remaining tied for second in the AFC West. The Chargers, meanwhile, jump out to take sole possession of first with a 2-0 start, setting the tone and establishing themselves as the team for the Raiders and the remaining teams in the division to beat.
Here are the major takeaways from a game that felt so close, but so far away for the Raiders.
Struggling to finish
Red zone offense is looking like it remains a sore spot for the Raiders, with the team unable to find the end zone in their three trips inside the 20-yard line.
In the second quarter, a drive ended when Geno Smith was sacked by Chargers defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell. In the third, the Raiders suffered a self-inflicted wound by pushing themselves back to the edge of a red zone with a holding penalty. Finally, Smith threw what was ultimately his third interception of the game to cornerback Donte Jackson.
The Raiders certainly had their chances, but not being able to finish was what set them back too far.
Riding the lightning
The Chargers offense did not exactly have a banner day against the Raiders defense, but a couple of splash plays made the difference.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert continues to prove why he deserves recognition as a top quarterback, putting up 235 yards and two touchdowns alongside 28 rushing yards on five carries. The first touchdown drive was surgical by Herbert, finding open receivers before connecting with Keenan Allen for a 10-yard touchdown grab. The second touchdown was ultimately a backbreaker for the Raiders, as Herbert found Quentin Johnston deep down the field for a 69-yard touchdown to put the lead well out of reach.
Trying to push
Even as the game felt out of reach, the Raiders had multiple opportunities in the fourth quarter to turn things around.
After successfully stopping Herbert from getting a fourth-down conversion, the Raiders started an offensive position at the Chargers’ 43-yard line before the Jackson interception in the red zone. Another drive would go as far as the Raiders’ 40-yard line before Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley took Smith down for a sack on fourth down. Even after rookie running back Omarion Hampton fumbled on the first play of the Chargers’ possession, the Raiders went four-and-out on the next drive.
Despite a valiant effort to get the ball back multiple times, the offense was just never able to get into a rhythm when it mattered most.
The Raiders will hope to get their season back on track against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
