Just when it seemed the Raiders offense couldn’t sink any lower, Las Vegas gained just 157 yards on their way to a 26-14 defeat against the Lions in Detroit on Monday night.
The game wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicates; the Lions settled for early field goals and committed three turnovers but dominated time of possession. Their offense moved the ball all day, finishing with 222 rushing yards and nearly 500 yards of overall offense.
Meanwhile, Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finished with just 126 passing yards 46.9 QB rating. He actually improved after the first half, when his rating was just 9.9 and he failed to complete a pass to a Vegas wide receiver.
Here are the winners and losers this week as the Raiders fall to 3-5 on the season.
Winner: CB Marcus Peters
The Raiders scored just one touchdown on offense, a short run by running back Josh Jacobs in the second quarter. Their other touchdown came on defense, courtesy of a pick-6 interception from cornerback Marcus Peters in the third quarter.
MARCUS PETERS PICK-6! @Raiders
📺: #LVvsDET on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/3b1HZU34bs pic.twitter.com/bIlhyTnRW2— NFL (@NFL) October 31, 2023
The defense started hot defending the red zone and held on for as long as it could against the Lions. After Peters’ interception, the Raiders trailed just 16-14, but even after forcing a turnover on the ensuing Lions possession, coach Josh McDaniels’ offense brought nothing to the table.
Winner: DE Maxx Crosby
It’s not worth a win, but Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby was arguably the best player on the field Monday night, though that designation probably goes to Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs, who had 152 rushing yards and one touchdown on 26 carries.
Still, Crosby was a beast all evening. He forced a fumble in the red zone on the Lions’ drive after Peters’ pick-6 and had eight tackles (five solo) including one tackle for loss that left Lions WR Jameson Williams without his helmet.
9️⃣8️⃣ ALL OVER THAT!#LVvsDET | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/JVdlTE4PwG
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 31, 2023
Winner: DL Adam Butler
Defensive tackle Adam Butler continued his solid play from recent weeks and contributed to the Raiders’ effort on defense before the unit got worn down over the course of 81 total plays of offense for Detroit.
Butler had a key tackle for loss in the red zone and also batted a pass on another key play inside the Raiders’ own 20-yard line a drive later.
Winner: LB Luke Masterson
Linebacker Luke Masterson left the game with an injury, but not before he started in place of the injured Divine Deablo and forced a fumble on the Lions’ second drive of the game.
The Raiders recovered the ball in Lions territory, but Garoppolo threw an interception as he tried to connect with wide receiver Davante Adams in the end zone.
Loser: QB Jimmy Garoppolo
The Raiders looked forward to getting their starting QB back after he missed last week due to injury, but the Vegas offense looked as bad as ever in Garoppolo’s return.
His interception after Masterson’s forced fumble set the tone for the evening. Adams was double-covered, but a stronger throw to the back of the end zone would have given Adams and his superstar ability a chance.
Kerby on the spot#LVvsDET |📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/FQqGXWMlkQ
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 31, 2023
Overall, Garoppolo only completed four passes to Raiders receivers on 10-for-21 passing. He never looked comfortable in the pocket, and if there’s a solution to the Raiders offense, Garoppolo doesn’t appear to be it.
Loser: WR Davante Adams
It’s tough putting Adams on the loser list every week, but he’s expressed frustration with the Raiders offense, and his situation isn’t getting any better.
McDaniels’ offense can’t score any points and seems incapable of taking advantage of Adams’ superstar skills. Adams finished this game with just one catch for 11 yards. At the end of this loss, he still couldn’t hide his frustration as he slammed his helmet to the turf.
Hard to blame Davante Adams. pic.twitter.com/kf92lqhxlg
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 31, 2023
Loser: Offensive line
The Raiders offensive line continues to be a major reason for Las Vegas’ inability to score points at an NFL level. Jacobs had a respectable 61 rushing yards and a touchdown, but Garoppolo was sacked six times and the Lions racked up nine QB hits.
Loser: Amik Robertson
Cornerback Amik Robertson had a rough evening, looking lost on a 44-yard catch and run by Amon-Ra St. Brown in the second quarter. Plus, he had a pass interference penalty in the third quarter, on a drive that ended in a 27-yard touchdown run from Gibbs and a 23-14 Lions advantage.
Loser: Coach Josh McDaniels
Looking at what McDaniels has done to this Raiders team since taking over last season, one could ask the question, “coach McDaniels, what are you doing, exactly?”
His offense looks broken, and he’s searching for answers and finding none. The Raiders even targeted the forgotten man, WR Hunter Renfrow, four times to no avail.
The Raiders have three wins and a couple of home games coming up, so things could change quickly, as is always the case in the NFL. But if you can’t score, you usually won’t win. McDaniels has his next chance to right the Raiders’ ship next week against the Giants.
