The Las Vegas Raiders were embarrassed by the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, getting blown out 31-0.
Las Vegas turned to backup quarterback Kenny Pickett to start in place of the injured Geno Smith, hoping he would spark the offense after he relieved Smith against the Denver Broncos and played well.
Unfortunately for Pickett and the Raiders, the switch didn’t generate more offense. In fact, the offense probably played their worst game of the season. Pickett completed 15 of 25 passes for just 64 yards and an interception. He rushed for seven yards on two carries and was sacked four times for a total loss of 35 yards, posting a measly 6.2 quarterback rating and 47.9 passer rating.
The defense obviously wasn’t much help, allowing 31 points to an Eagles team that has been struggling to score in recent weeks. Eagles quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee combined to complete 15 of 18 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns, while star running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
Las Vegas had a tough time slowing tight end Dallas Goedert down as he caught six of his seven targets for 70 yards and two scores.
Head coach Pete Carroll was asked what he thought was going on with the team after he aspired to take the team to the playoffs in year one as head coach. Carroll was upset at the implication that the team has quit on him.
“These guys fought their a** off! That was the result. They didn’t stop fighting,” Carroll said furiously following the game. “That was the result of our play right there. I have a lot of respect for the roster we just played against, maybe they didn’t look like it the past couple of weeks, but they played like they’re capable. We couldn’t stop them, that’s what I saw. What would I base that thought on that we would be fighting for our life here?
“I have nothing but wins and background and history to set our expectations and maintain the standards that we work by. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re still doing it, we’re still practicing hard, working hard, studying hard. Guys are giving good effort, they’re in the weight room, they’re fighting their tails off. The only good thing that happened was nobody got hurt today. They’re doing all that we’re asking of them and this is the result of it, against the world champs last year, who maybe weren’t playing quite like that for a month here or whatever, but they looked like it today. They looked like a great team today.”
The Raiders will travel to Houston for a bout with the Texans in Week 16.