Complete Recap: Good, Bad, and Ugly from Raiders vs. Chargers

HENDERSON, Nev.—The Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) fell at home on Monday Night Football to the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) 20-9 earlier this evening, and it was a, “lost opportunity” according to Pete Carroll.

It was a significant loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football, and our latest Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast offers you a complete recap of the good, bad, and ugly from the game.

You can watch the entire podcast below:

Geno Smith has done a terrific job since arriving in the heat of the desert, and not just on the field, but in the locker room as well. A true leader, and there is no doubt what Pete Carroll sees in him.

After the disappointing loss, Pete Carroll spoke, and below is a partial transcript of what he said.

Head Coach Pete Carroll

Head Coach Pete Carroll: "What that really feels like is a real missed opportunity just in general. Monday night was just part of that, but in the division, it's a real opportunity, and we didn't play well enough on the offensive side with the turnovers that add up. That'll be what you talk about and all, but it really was -- we didn't play well enough, and they covered us up pretty good. I'm anxious to see the film. Not surprised that they did such a nice job on defense, on pass defense against us. We came out of it okay as far as getting banged up, happy about that. Really, really like what's going on the defense. Couple second halves here, just terrific D, and we're going to need that to play together. But we know we missed the opportunity, and there's so many different ways that we'll get better. And so we got to go back to work really quickly and get ready for this game coming up.

Sep 15, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) drops back to pass during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Q: I know you said it's easy to look at the turnovers, but we got to look at the turnovers. Three interceptions by the quarterback. That's usually a nonstarter. Anything that you can put your finger on on that?

Coach Carroll: "Yeah, well, he took a couple shots. He threw a couple bombs down there, and one was on about the two, and the other one was in the end zone. I think if that's right, yeah. The reason that he got there because he we had time to hold the football. So we protected okay, and we didn't get the ball thrown underneath. That's what I wish we would have done. I wish we would not taken those shots. They looked like we had to score quick or something. I don't feel like that when we play is the way that we should ever play. We got to take what's there, and we got to take a look at the film. I got to see why that happened like that. Surprised. We haven't looked like that at all at any time. So that's the first time that came up."

Sep 15, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) greets Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) after the game at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Q: Geno Smith tonight, a couple times, obviously, looked like he was limping. Did his health have anything to do his performance?

Coach Carroll: "No. He was alright. He took off and ran and made some yards too. There was a little something from last week, but it wasn't bothering him. He was okay. He made it through all the tests and all of that. So I think he'll feel more confident as he goes out again, comes back and maybe push it, but I don't think that was a big, big issue tonight."

Q: Going back to your first answer on Geno Smith and the interceptions, just in general, overall, his decision making tonight. Your thought process on it? He took a couple of shots, whether he wanted to or not, but just overall, his decision making. Second, with Brock Bowers coming in banged up, little limited, did that play a role in play calling and maybe adjustments in terms of targeting?

Coach Carroll: "I got to talk to Chip [Kelly] about that. We were concerned about him, practiced one day during the week, and he seemed okay and all that. But you saw us go to him more in the second half because he survived the first half and made it through it. I thought like we were impatient with the throwing game, and that's why the ball went down the field so far. And I don't think we needed to do that. But again, I don't want to talk too much until I see the film about the specifics of that, but it's disappointing. I know that the picks are a big issue, but that's not my concern. My concern is why we didn't get the bulk thrown and caught underneath, and we wound up taking those shots."

Aug 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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