Pola-Mao Steps in, Has a Day for Raiders Against Miami
The Las Vegas Raiders have constantly put an emphasis on a "next-man-up" mentality this season.
In Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao took that mentality to heart, as the second-year Raider showed up when he was called upon.
Pola-Mao was tagged when Las Vegas safety Marcus Epps went down because of a neck injury in the first half. Epps would ultimately be ruled out in the third quarter.
The former undrafted free agent instantly made his presence felt when he made a crucial tackle on a Dolphins fourth-and-1 conversion attempt in the red zone in the second quarter.
Pola-Mao would come up big again on the very first play of the second half when he intercepted a pass by one of the top passers in the NFL, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
It was Pola-Mao's first interception of his young NFL career.
The 24-year-old safety was one of three Raiders -- himself, cornerback Nate Hobbs and linebacker Luke Masterson -- to force a turnover on Sunday.
"You've got three of those guys who -- second-year players, third-year players -- it just shows the development," Raiders Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby said when he addressed the media after Sunday's game. "The dudes aregetting better. We're intentional about taking the ball away.
"Every time somebody has a ball in their hand, we want to end the possession with the ball in our possession."
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao had a day against the Miami Dolphins.
© Sam Navarro | 2023 Nov 19
Ultimately, Pola-Mao recorded four solo tackles and three assisted tackles in the Raiders' loss on Sunday.
The performance followed a game in which Pola-Mao played only one defensive snap. It was his 10th game of the season, his only game missed having been the Raiders' Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
So far this season, Pola-Mao has 14 combined tackles. He recorded 20 combined tackles, two for losses and a sack in his 11 games for Las Vegas last season.
The Silver and Black will return home next week to celebrate Thanksgiving and take on their AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday, Nov. 26, at 4:25 p.m. EST/1:25 p.m. PST.
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