MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Las Vegas Raiders’ ambitions for a late-season comeback in the AFC playoff race faced a major setback on Sunday.
The team, now at 2-8, suffered their sixth consecutive loss, allowing points on six out of seven drives by the Miami Dolphins, ultimately falling 34-19.
“It’s easy to come up with excuses and blame various details,” stated Raiders defensive player Maxx Crosby. “At this stage, it’s about playing for pride.”
Despite coming off a bye week and the significant changes within their coaching staff, which included the firing of three offensive assistants and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, the Raiders were unable to turn their fortunes around.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew put forth a solid effort, completing 30 of 43 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while tight end Brock Bowers showcased his developing talent with 13 receptions totaling 126 yards.
“There were plenty of positives to build upon, and I really like our team,” Minshew expressed. “We’ll just keep showing up and working hard.”
Under the direction of interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner, Bowers received a notable 16 targets, including a 23-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that brought the Raiders closer at 17-12.
“For sure, there were definitely opportunities for me,” Bowers noted. “My job is simple—catch the ball and gain yards.”
A significant struggle for the Raiders was their inability to keep the Dolphins’ offense off the field. Miami started the game strong, with a drive lasting 8:13 that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jonnu Smith.
They continued to dominate with a second drive that lasted 8:22, concluding with Jason Sanders kicking a 31-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead in the second quarter.
The moment that sealed the Raiders’ fate came from a critical defensive miscommunication, allowing Tagovailoa to find a wide-open Smith for a 57-yard touchdown, increasing Miami’s lead to 31-19 with just over three minutes left.
“We had critical penalties on third downs that kept their drives alive and ultimately led to scores,” remarked Pierce. “Miscommunication also played a significant role on that deep ball.”
Unfortunately, the Raiders were unable to force any punts or recover a turnover throughout the game.
“They did an excellent job of getting rid of the ball quickly,” Crosby observed. “While we managed to stop the run well, there are several areas we need to focus on for improvement.”
Raiders tight end Michael Mayer made his return after being placed on the non-football illness list on October 11, contributing with a catch for 5 yards.
“I kept myself engaged by running routes and maintaining my focus during my absence,” said Mayer. “So, coming back, it wasn’t particularly challenging to pick up where I left off.”