The Raiders played one of the most lackluster NFL games anyone has ever seen and made matters worse by losing on a late field goal, 3-0 to the Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
The Vikings made a switch at quarterback before finally scoring the game’s first points, turning to old Raiders nemesis Nick Mullens to finish the job.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce stuck with QB Aidan O’Connell, and the rookie answered Minnesota’s field goal with a game-closing interception. Las Vegas had the ball and one timeout with 1:57 remaining before the turnover.
Here are this week’s winners and losers after a dreadful game the Raiders could have salvaged with a victory. But of course, they did not.
Winner: DE Maxx Crosby
It was a terrible day for the Raiders offense, but it was an awful afternoon for the Vikings offense as well. Defensive end Maxx Crosby led the effort on defense for Las Vegas, notching two QB sacks, 10 tackles (seven solo), three tackles for loss, and four QB hits.
Crosby’s first takedown was the 50th sack of his career. He became just the fifth Raider in history to reach that milestone. His second sack gave him a new single-season career high with 13.5 sacks thus far in 2023.
The Raiders’ superstar got the job done with style, too. He was held on his first sack, and on the second, Crosby’s moves did a number on the offensive tackle, who unfortunately went to the sideline with an injury after the play.
THAT'S 50 FOR NO. 98 🦅#MINvsLV | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/Y7xfYdOaDK
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 10, 2023
Winner: LB Robert Spillane
Linebacker Robert Spillane was all over the field for the Raiders and his total tackle count mirrored Crosby’s (10 tackles, seven solo) with two tackles for loss and a QB hit. He added a QB sack when he timed the snap perfectly on a blitz and was unblocked on his way to the quarterback.
Winner: DE Tyree Wilson
The Raiders moved rookie defensive end Tyree Wilson inside at times on Sunday and he responded with his best game as a pro. Wilson recorded a QB sack early in the game and also had a tackle for loss and a QB hit.
Winner: DC Patrick Graham
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham deserves credit for having his group ready for the Vikings after Vegas’ bye week. He rotated players along the defensive front and in the secondary for much of the game, and his players responded.
Even DE Janarius Robinson got into the action, recording his first QB sack of the season. Overall, the Raiders had five sacks, eight tackles for loss, three passes defended, and a whopping 11 QB hits. Plus, the secondary played tough as well, recording multiple violent and legal hits.
The defense handed the offense an easy opportunity for a win, but their teammates on the other side of the ball couldn’t capitalize.
Loser: QB Aidan O’Connell
The Raiders looked pretty decent to start the game, but rookie signal caller Aidan O’Connell made a couple of bad mistakes that cost his team dearly.
The Raiders took the ball first and held possession for nearly half the quarter. They converted a 4th-and-1 near midfield with a QB sneak, but then O’Connell took a sack as he held the ball for far too long in the pocket, setting up a long third-down play. He then connected with wide receiver Davante Adams, but the catch was far short of a first down. Adams slammed the ball to the turf in frustration, an ominous sign for the rest of the game.
On the Raiders’ second drive, they also converted a 4th-and-1 near midfield and appeared primed to score some points. But O’Connell committed an obvious intentional grounding play, setting up an eventual punt. Points on either drive would have changed the game dramatically, considering how well the Raiders defense played all afternoon. O’Connell never made up for it, all the way to his late interception.
Right after scoring the first points of the game, @Vikings intercept the ball with less than 2 min to go 😱
📺: #MINvsLV on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8S30C pic.twitter.com/80s9F0Mctj— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2023
Loser: HC Antonio Pierce
The Raiders lost their third straight game under interim coach Antonio Pierce. He could have tried a switch at quarterback to try and jump-start his offense, as the Vikings did, but Pierce elected to stick with O’Connell. Considering he tied his fate to the rookie QB by starting him when he took over for Josh McDaniels, it’s not surprising. But that seemed like a fine time to try something different and put former starter Jimmy Garoppolo into the game.
Adding insult to injury, Pierce’s unusual move to bring his team out of the halftime locker room earlier than normal in an attempt to start strong in the second half didn’t work at all, at least for the offense. After such a dreadful game and an even more dreadful ending, it appears Pierce’s chances of remaining Raiders head coach are over, as are the Raiders’ slim playoff hopes.
Loser: WR Hunter Renfrow
After a 38-yard catch and run from WR Hunter Renfrow in the third quarter, it appeared Renfrow was destined for the winner list and the Raiders might win the game. The play set Vegas up at the Vikings 11-yard line. But a few plays later, Renfrow fumbled the ball and Minnesota recovered, eliminating a prime scoring opportunity.
We'll take it.
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ZRbTagjxpw
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 10, 2023
Loser: OC Bo Hardegree
If an offense is shut out after the bye week, the offensive coordinator deserves some negative attention. Such is the case this week for Raiders offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree.
Las Vegas had its share of 3rd-and-short opportunities but was only 3-14 on third downs. The run game never got going and finished with just 56 yards. O’Connell and Hardegree looked overwhelmed against a formidable defense and defensive coordinator in Brian Flores, and they both need to go back to the drawing board and find something, anything, that works.
As low as the Raiders sunk under ex-coach Josh McDaniels, this performance may be Vegas’ low point of the season. Do any of the good vibes that resulted from two wins after McDaniels’ exodus remain? Or will the Raiders pack it in over the last four weeks? Either way, it appears the Raiders are primed for yet another regime change in the offseason after this embarrassing performance.
