DENVER (AP) — The reeling Raiders are dealing with drama, dysfunction and now an ugly defeat against a Denver Broncos team they’d owned ever since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.
This one started out so well, too, before turning so ugly.
Gardner Minshew threw a momentum-turning pick-six in the second quarter before later being benched and the Raiders committed 11 penalties as they saw their eight-game winning streak over the Broncos halted Sunday in a 34-18 loss.
“I don't think there are any positives when you lose,” said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, whose QBs threw three interceptions.
Now, it's re-evaluation time for the Raiders (2-3) as questions hover over them.
There's still the situation with Davante Adams, the talented receiver who missed Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury. He’s not only banged up but apparently on the trading block. The Raiders reportedly have had conversations with several teams since early last week when Adams told the team he preferred to play elsewhere.
Las Vegas did have back pass rusher Maxx Crosby from an ankle sprain. He had two sacks of rookie QB Bo Nix, who threw for 206 yards and two TD passes.
“I could have 10 sacks and we lose, I’m not going to be happy,” Crosby said. “It sucks."
Things started promisingly for Minshew and the Raiders as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. They were on the doorstep of making it 17-3 in the second quarter after driving to the Denver 5-yard line. Minshew rolled out and overthrew his target, tight end Brock Bowers, and the pass went right into the hands of Pat Surtain II, who raced 100 yards for the score.
Just like that, it was 10-10.
“I killed our momentum with the pick-six,” said Minshew, who threw for 137 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions before being replaced. “I didn’t even do a good enough job of giving us a shot to be competitive in the game. That’s on me.”
Surtain's pick opened the door for the Broncos (3-2) to beat the Raiders for the first time since Dec. 29, 2019. That also happened to be the last game for the Oakland Raiders before the franchise moved to Las Vegas.
Minshew's performance possibly opened the door for Aidan O’Connell, who came in late in the third quarter and trailing 20-10. He finished 10 of 20 for 94 yards and one pick (another by Surtain).
Pierce sidestepped whether O’Connell might be under center next weekend when the injury-riddled Raiders host Pittsburgh, saying only, “I don't know."
He was alarmed at the penalties, though — 11 for 79 yards. One of them was a call on Janarius Robinson with no time left in the first half for using “leverage” on a 59-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz. Although the kick sailed wide left, Lutz got another chance thanks to the penalty and drilled a 44-yarder to give Denver a 13-10 lead at the break.
“Two of the things we talk about that we cannot do on the road — turn the football over and (commit) penalties,” Pierce said. “Those two things we led by a large margin and that’s not good.”
A resolution with Adams may soon be looming. Adams said on his weekly spot on the “Up and Adams Show” that he hadn’t heard from Pierce since a screenshot appeared of Pierce appearing to like a social media post about possibly trading the receiver.
Just another drama-filled week for the Raiders.
“You think I’m not used to this (stuff) going on?” Crosby said. "I've dealt with it my whole career. It is what it is. Davante is my boy. I love Davante, and he’s going to do what he’s going to do. Praying for him, wish him the best.
“But we’re focused on the Raiders, we're focused on who’s here now, and we’re focused on winning. Got to find ways to do that.”
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Pat Graham, The Associated Press
