Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) – Green Bay Packers (2-3): 17-13
Jordan Love’s good start to the season (16/30, 182 yards, 3 ints) seems a long way off. Monday evening, the second-year quarterback seemed lost on the Las Vegas lawn. While the Packers defense kept the suspense going by giving the ball back to the offense with a little less than two minutes to play, Love and his offense were not able to get the winning touchdown.
Worse, the thrower was intercepted by Amik Robertson with 44 seconds remaining. On this 3rd & 10, Love was able to get the first attempt by running. He preferred to send a difficult ball into the end zone. He was punished.
For the Raiders, this conclusion is the reward for a great defensive evening. For Jimmy Garoppolo’s attack (22/31, 208 yards, 1 TD, 1 int), it’s something else…
Packers who are not moving forward
Green Bay is suffering in the first half this year. This is still the case this Monday evening. Apart from a drive capped by a field goal, the attack only gained 58 lengths on its other five possessions before the break. The absences of David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones certainly don’t help, but Matt LaFleur must now find solutions without them. For the moment, he can’t do it.
Fortunately for the Packers, the Raiders are not much more energetic offensively. Davante Adams (4 rec, 45 yards) being completely transparent in the first part of the match, it was Jakobi Meyers (7 rec, 75 yards, 1 TD) who was found for a touchdown by Jimmy Garoppolo.
10-3 at the break. It’s not the big show in Vegas.
Defense saves the Raiders
Things don’t improve after returning from the locker room. Garoppolo throws his first interception while searching for Meyers once again. Green Bay takes advantage of the good position in the opposing field to score a touchdown on the ground. It’s AJ Dillon (20 races, 76 yards, 1 TD) who finds the end zone. The Packers even went ahead with a field goal a few minutes later (10-13).
But Josh Jacobs responds (20 races, 69 yards, 1 TD). He continues the races, Davante Adams finally catches a 21-yard pass, and Jacobs takes the ball into the end zone on the first action of the last quarter (17-13).
There are fifteen minutes left to play and the score will not change. Because Robert Spillane emerges for the second time of the evening with an interception. But also because Josh McDaniels continues to play cautiously. With 2 minutes to play, the Raiders have a 4th & 2 on the opposing 34 yards. Rather than a decisive first down, the coach chose a 52-yard kick. Missed.
Love does not take advantage of this gift and throws his last interception. Defense saves the Raiders.
In difficulty offensively, the two teams seem far from being able to worry the leaders of their respective divisions.
