Raiders “Pierce” the Jets' Heart, 16-12
LAS VEGAS, Nev.--It was mighty close, but the Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0 under Interim Coach Antonio Pierce.
Linebacker Robert Spillane intercepted a pass in the final. Raiders survived two long passes by quarterback Zach Wilson in the final seconds. The Silver and Black won a come-from-behind, 16-12 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I had fun again when I got in the locker room,” Pierce said. “When I was out there on the grass, that was stressful.”
The Raiders (5-5) improved their home record to 41 by scoring 13 straight points after behind 9-3 late in the second quarter, as rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell threw a seven-yarder to rookie tight Micheal Mayer with 14:10 left for the only touchdown of the game and a 16-9 lead.
“Many, many more to come, hopefully,” Mayer said of his first touchdown catch as a pro. “It’s a really special thing to be able to do that for my teammates, do that for my coaches. This organization’s been through a lot the past couple of weeks.”
Greg Zuerlein kicked the fourth field of the game from 45 yards for the final points with 11:58 left remaining, but the Raiders were able to hold on,
After that field goal, Las Vegas seemed to be in control and were running out the clock with a chance to another score on a 10-play, 50-yard drive before running back Josh Jacobs fumbled, and safety Ashtyn Davis recorded the Jets at New York's 24-yard-line with 5:58 left.
“I didn’t want to be the reason why we lost,” Jacobs said.
Wilson threw 10 consecutive passes as the Jets drove 56 yards before Spillane cut in front wide receiver Allen Lizard for the interception at Las Vegas's 15-yard line, which he returned 25 yards to the 40.
“There’s not too much difference between a two-yard gain and a four-yard gain, but when you get turnovers, you change the complexion of the game,” Spillane said.
The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-0 under the masterful leadership of Antonio Pierce.
© Candice Ward | 2023 Nov 12
However, it forced the Raiders to punt, and AJ Cole booted the ball 60 yards into the end zone with 53 left in the game, and the Jets got one last desperation chance from 80 yards away. Wilson hit tight end Tyler Conklin with two passes for 36 yards, the last 27 to the Las Vegas 44-yard-line with 13 seconds left.
Then Wilson heaved two passes to the end zone that fell incomplete, the last one on which wide receiver Garrett Wilson got his hands on but couldn’t hold on in a crowd of Raiders and Jets.
The Jets drove deep into Raiders territory several times, as Zuerlein kicked fields of 47 and 53 yards to give the Jets a 6-3 lead in the first quarter, as Daniel Carlson made a 41-yarder for Las Vegas.
After the second field goal by Zuerlein, O’Connell fumbled a snap but recovered, although on the next play, his pass was intercepted by safety Jordan Whitehead at the Las Vegas 32-yard-line, and he returned it six yards.
Four plays later, Wilson scrambled for what looked like a 23-yard touchdown, but replay showed stepped out at the three-yard-line. Reece Hall ran three yards for what looked like another touchdown, but tight end C.J. Uzomah was called for holding defensive end Maxx Crosby.
The Raiders stiffened and Zuerlein kicked a 30-yard field goal with 11:48 left in the second quarter, but the Raiders made it 9-6 at halftime on Carlson’s 54-yard goal as time expired an eight-play, 44-yard drive with the help of a roughing the passer call.
DeAndre Carter made a 32-punt return to set up Carlson’s 40-yard field to tie the score, 9-9, with T2:36 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders got the ball back late in the third quarter and drove 53 yards in five plays, the biggest being a 40-yard run by Josh Jacobs to set O’Connell’s pass to Mayer for what proved to be the winning touchdown.
Jacobs, the defending NFL rushing champion who has struggled this season but gained 98 yards and scored two touchdowns in a victory over the New York Giants, had his first game over the century mark this season with 116 yards on 27 touchdowns.
O’Connell, 2-1 starter in his rookie season, completed 16-of-27 passes for 153 yards with one touchdown and one interception while being sacked three times.
“He’s not a rookie,” All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams said. “By years he is, but by actions and the poise in those types of situations, you don’t see that often from a rookie quarterback. The way he commands the huddle, the way he talks to us, the communication, the confidence … I’m glad he’s our guy.”
Adams led the Raiders with six receptions for 86 yards, Mayer had three catches for 19 yards and the touchdown, and Jacobi Meyers had two receptions for 21 yards.
The Raiders rushed for 148 yards, only the second time they have gone over 100 this after doing so last week, and had 274 net yards to 365 for the Jets, but the Silver and Black defense rose to shut them down at crucial times.
Zach Wilson completed 23-of 39 passes for 263 yards with no touchdowns, one interception, and was sacked twice, while also for 54 yards on four carries. Garrett Wilson led the Jets with nine receptions 93 yards, Conklin had seven for 70, and running Breece Hall had three for 47, but he was held to 28 on 13 carries.
Spillane led the Raiders with seven tackles, a sack, and a huge interception. Linebacker Divine Deablo returned after missing two games with injury to make seven tackles and one defense, while cornerback Hobbs had five tackles and one pass defended.
Cole kept the Jets deep in their territory by averaging 50.6 yards on five, with three going inside the 20-yard-line.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley everyone in the game with 14 tackles, Whitehead added nine and the interception, and safety Tony Adams made eight stops.
Pierce will lead the Raiders out onto the road for the first time next week when they play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, formerly Joe Robbie Stadium, in Miami, and they will return home to Allegiant Stadium the following Sunday, Nov. 26 to play the arch-rival Kansas City Chiefs.
The Silver and Black then have their bye in Week 13 before playing host to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 12, and then will play another home game against the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football on Dec. 14.
The Raiders will play their last two road games of the regular season against the Chiefs at Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Monday Night Football on Christmas Day before playing the Indianapolis Colts the following week on New Year’s Eve at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The last game of the regular season for the Raiders will be against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on either Saturday, Jan. 6, or the next day, as the schedule for that weekend has yet to be determined.
The Silver and Black will head on the road to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST.
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