Getty Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell.
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ hot streak came to an end with a 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. Unlike in many losses of years past, the reason the team lost this game was the offense and not the defense.
Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw 3 interceptions, including one caught by cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the end zone with 22 seconds left in the game that sealed the Dolphins’ win.
Despite his 3-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, O’Connell has not lost the confidence of the team. Star wide receiver Davante Adams made it clear that nobody is ready to give up on O’Connell yet.
“We’re not freaking out, he’s not freaking out,” Adams told reporters in his November 19 postgame media availability. “We just have to stay together and find a way to convert better.”
Davante Adams on O’Connell’s rough day: “We’re not freaking out, he’s not freaking out. We just have to stay together and find a way to convert better.”
The Raiders defense held the NFL’s top offense to just 20 points — on the heels of holding the New York Jets and New York Giants to 12 and 6 points, respectively — and got little help from the offense. The loss dropped the Raiders to 5-6 and in third place in the AFC West. As of November 20, Las Vegas holds the 12th seed in the AFC playoff picture.
JALEN RAMSEY CALLED GAME #LVvsMIA
Could Team Turn to Jimmy Garoppolo?
Outside of their 30-point performance against the Giants in Week 9, the Raiders offense has struggled all season, having scored fewer than 20 points in all but one other game. Benching Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of O’Connell has not led to much of a boost. In his three starts, the Raiders are scoring 19.7 points a game, just above the team’s 16.8 points per game for the season.
The Raiders could face a tough decision if O’Connell doesn’t improve. Before getting benched, Garoppolo led the league in interceptions (9), but the team is paying him $24.25 million a season and he has a history of winning, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the 2020 Super Bowl.
O’Connell won’t lose the starting job yet, but interim head coach Antonio Pierce has to do what he can to win if he hopes to keep the job past this season. It may take a move back to Garoppolo if O’Connell can’t start showing more. A loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at home in Week 12 makes getting to the playoffs very difficult so the Raiders have to hope that the rookie can flip a switch soon.
Davante Adams Praises Defense
For years, the Raiders offense has had to carry the defense. The group hasn’t finished in the top 15 in yards allowed or points allowed since 2002. While they still have work to do to break that streak, the defense is playing better than it has in years.
Heading into Week 11, the Dolphins led the NFL with 31.7 points per game, but the Raiders held them to just 20. That should’ve been enough to get them the win but the offense has been one of the worst in the league this year despite having a lot of talent.
Adams acknowledged that the offense needs to improve while also praising the defensive performance.
“Defense played great,” he said. “We’ve gotta do a better job of helping them out. … We’ve gotta make it easier on the team by doing our part.”
Overall, this game was closer than many expected, but it can’t help feeling as though the Raiders let a really good opportunity slip through their fingers.
“Defense played great. We’ve gotta do a better job of helping them out….We’ve gotta make it easier on the team by doing our part.”
Davante Adams gives props to his defense for holding the NFL’s no.1 offense to just 20 points in a hard fought loss in Miami.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel,…
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Davante Adams Sends Strong Message to Aidan O’Connell After Rough Game