The Las Vegas Raiders fell to the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium on “Monday Night Football” in a lopsided 33-16 defeat that left even more questions about Las Vegas’ offense and its identity.
Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty, the team’s No. 6 overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, finished with just seven rushing yards on six attempts, along with 27 receiving yards on six catches.
Raiders QB Geno Smith, who has struggled for the majority of the NFL season, completed 27 of 42 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
After the game, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll publicly backed his quarterback, saying, “I thought Geno [Smith] played really well, for the most part, last night. I continue to really believe in him. I have no hesitation in telling you that.”
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Through Week 11, Smith has thrown for just 2,082 passing yards (18th among starting QBs), 12 touchdowns, and a league-leading 13 interceptions, posting a mere 32.6 QBR (the worst of his career as a starter).
While he’s shown flashes, including multiple games with over 220 yards passing, his season has been largely underwhelming after signing a two-year, $85.5 million extension ($66.5 million guaranteed) with Las Vegas in April.
However, even with the Raiders sitting at 2-8 and well outside of the playoff picture, at least in part due to Smith’s horrendous start, Carroll appears committed to staying the course.
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The Raiders return home next week to face the Cleveland Browns (Week 12), followed by a road game at the Los Angeles Chargers (Week 13) before hosting the Denver Broncos (Week 14).
Even if the playoff race is effectively closed, the coming matchups give Las Vegas a practical window to stabilize its offense and regain momentum (and fan confidence) ahead of the offseason.
Barring a trade, Smith will be part of next season’s roster, yet the team’s high draft position makes drafting a long‑term quarterback a real possibility.