Ryan McFadden
LAS VEGAS — Geno Smith was visibly pissed off on Sunday afternoon.
The 34-year-old quarterback got here to Las Vegas with the expectation of ending the group's continual struggles at quarterback whereas jumpstarting coach Pete Carroll's rebuild course of.
As an alternative, the Raiders sit at 1-3 after a deflating 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears during which he threw three interceptions, spoiling rookie Ashton Jeanty's breakout efficiency at Allegiant Stadium.
“[There are] plenty of issues I'll have to repair inside myself, and that is the fact. I am not going to sugarcoat it, I bought to be so much higher,” stated Smith, who additionally accomplished 14 of 21 cross makes an attempt for 117 yards and two touchdowns. “The man that I am presupposed to be hasn't [shown] up but. I am going to take satisfaction in fixing these things.”
Regardless of Smith's struggles to maintain the ball out of hurt's approach, he managed to present Las Vegas an opportunity to win the sport down the stretch. Through the last two minutes of regulation, operating again Dylan Laube had a 38-yard kick return earlier than Smith accomplished passes to tight finish Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker to succeed in Chicago's 43-yard line.
With 38 seconds to go, Daniel Carlson's go-ahead 54-yard area aim try was blocked by Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell, placing the nail within the coffin.
Smith's efficiency and the blocked area aim overshadowed Jeanty's record-breaking outing. He reverted to his faculty stance and had 155 complete yards — 138 on the bottom — and three complete touchdowns (two receiving, one dashing).
He gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead within the first quarter after an 8-yard landing catch. Within the second quarter, Jeanty discovered a gap on the left facet after which took off down the sideline for a 64-yard landing, extending his group's result in 14-6.
Jeanty turned the primary Raiders rookie with three touchdowns in a sport since Bo Jackson in 1987. He is additionally the fifth participant age 21 or youthful to have a three-touchdown sport within the final decade, becoming a member of De'Von Achane, Ja'Marr Chase, Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott.
The Raiders totaled a mixed 217 dashing yards within the first three video games. On Sunday, they totaled 240 — probably the most in a loss in franchise historical past.
“You noticed how Ashton [Jeanty] ran the ball at the moment,” Smith stated. “You noticed how the road performed at the moment. You noticed how our guys have been getting open, and the way our protection performed. ..Should you have a look at the distinction within the sport, it was the turnovers.”
Carroll stated the rating may've been “ridiculous” within the first quarter as a result of turnovers, however credited the protection for conserving Chicago from crossing the tip zone. Smith was picked off by security Kevin Byard III and Jeanty fumbled, however the Bears solely scored three factors.
Smith's second interception to Byard, nonetheless, led to a Bears area aim. And his third opened the door for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to throw a 27-yard landing cross to large receiver and Las Vegas native Rome Odunze, which gave Chicago a 15-14 lead within the third.
Though the Raiders nonetheless put themselves ready to win, Smith's turnovers proved expensive by stalling drives.
“You possibly can't anticipate to show the ball over like that and win,” Carroll stated. “It would not occur, however we overcame it as a result of the protection was so spectacular within the first half, making these stops. …I do know Geno [Smith] is sick.”
Smith has thrown a league-high seven interceptions by 4 video games. He has thrown three interceptions in a number of video games for the primary time since 2013, when he was a rookie for the New York Jets.
He had a uncooked quarterback ranking of 26 in opposition to the Bears.
“I'm upset the best way that I turned the ball over and gave these guys possibilities and gave our protection brief fields to play with, they usually're taking part in like that,” Smith stated. “I am placing us in powerful conditions again and again.”
The Raiders misplaced extra than simply their third sport of the season. Beginning left sort out Kolton Miller was carted off the sphere through the last minutes of the fourth quarter after struggling a sprained ankle.
In the meantime, beginning cornerback Eric Stokes sprained his knee with lower than 5 minutes remaining within the third. Rookie cornerback Darien Porter changed him for the remainder of the sport.
“[Stokes] was again up operating, and thought he may go, after which he determined not,” Carroll stated.
