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HENDERSON, Nev. — Aidan O’Connell may not be the long-term solution for the Raiders’ quarterback situation, but he is certainly the answer for now.
In a competitive game against Kansas City, which ended in a 19-17 defeat for Las Vegas, O’Connell proved he is ready to lead the team for the remainder of the season, provided he stays injury-free. Despite not having played for almost six weeks due to a broken thumb and navigating a short preparation window against the Chiefs, he showed impressive form.
O’Connell completed 23 passes out of 35 attempts for a total of 340 yards, including two touchdown throws—one for 33 yards to tight end Brock Bowers and another for 58 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker. Notably, he did not throw any interceptions throughout the match.
“He competed admirably,” remarked coach Antonio Pierce on Saturday morning. “Given what we anticipated from Spags and that Kansas City defense, he stood tall in the pocket, executed challenging throws, absorbed some hits, and made the deep throws we requested. Our skill players stepped up, contributing significantly to our offensive efforts.”
O’Connell’s performance could have been highlighted even more if not for a critical mistake on the Raiders’ last offensive play. He managed to drive the team from their own 8-yard line to the Chiefs’ 32 with only 15 seconds remaining. The intention was for him to throw the ball away to run down the clock, which would set up kicker Daniel Carlson for a possible winning field goal without giving Patrick Mahomes time to respond.
However, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson unexpectedly snapped the ball, which Kansas City recovered, sealing the game for them. The Raiders also faced an illegal shift penalty, which the Chiefs declined, leading to some confusion over whether officials were considering a false start instead. This particular infraction would have cost Las Vegas five yards, yet could still have allowed Carlson to attempt a field goal.
Pierce noted that the team heard an official’s whistle before the snap, a point that will be documented in their communication with the NFL. “We address these issues each game,” he mentioned. “Typically, we raise around three to five inquiries, and we’ll receive a response within 24 to 36 hours that we can review and learn from.”
On a positive note, Bowers delivered another outstanding performance, being targeted 14 times and catching 10 passes that accumulated 140 yards. Over the season, he boasts 84 receptions for 884 yards and four touchdowns, making him a strong contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“We see teams double-teaming him and adjusting their zones accordingly, but I believe he handles that pressure well,” Pierce commented. “He’s truly a special talent.”
Nonetheless, there are areas that require improvement. The Raiders need to enhance their performance on first and second downs to create more favorable situations for third downs. They have faced 47 third downs between 7 and 10 yards, sharing the fifth-highest number in the league with the Dallas Cowboys. While Las Vegas’ conversion rate of 36.2% on such plays ranks relatively well among teams, generating fewer of these scenarios would be beneficial.
In terms of defensive performance, the Raiders made it challenging for Mahomes by sacking him five times. Not just Maxx Crosby contributed; four different players recorded at least half a sack, including K’Lavon Chaisson, who tallied 1 1/2 sacks. This represented a season-high for the Raiders, extending their streak of games with at least one sack of the opposing quarterback to 30—making it the third-longest active stretch in the league.
However, Carlson’s performance was below his usual standard, as he missed field goals from distances of 56, 55, and 58 yards. While these attempts were not easy, Carlson has proven capable of hitting from such ranges, converting 30 of 38 field goals from 50 yards or more prior to this game.
Injury concerns also mounted as wide receiver DJ Turner sustained a knee injury during the second half.
A notable statistic is that Las Vegas is among just three teams to have fallen behind by double digits in each of their first 12 games this season, joining the ranks of the 1986 Indianapolis Colts and the 1972 New England Patriots.
Looking ahead, the Raiders will travel to Tampa Bay on December 8.
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