Geno Smith struggled again as the Las Vegas Raiders fell 40-6 to the Indianapolis Colts on October 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Smith went 25-for-36 for 228 yards but threw two interceptions, continuing his turnover issues.
After winning in Week 1, the Silver and Black have lost four games in a row and Smith’s performance during this losing streak is at the heart of it. Nonetheless, the veteran quarterback is confident that the team has what it takes to turn the situation around.
Smith spoke to reporters after the loss and shared the message he’s relaying to the Raiders locker room as their downward skid continues for another week.
“I think we didn’t come out [strong],” Smith said after the loss. “We didn’t execute the way we’re supposed to [on offense/defense]. That’s the reality of it. We got to fix it; we got to get better. We got to go to work and figure it out [as a team].”
How Do the Raiders Fix Their Issues?
Smith also explained how Las Vegas can try to salvage its 2025 NFL season before it gets out of hand, if it hasn’t already.
“Work harder, study harder, study longer, band together, become a tighter group,” Smith added. “And I think we’re already a tight group, but we got to get tighter as a group. And guys got to lock in. I mean, it’s a tough game. It’s a one-play-at-a-time game.
“They’re going to face a tough team every week. Man, that’s the NFL. There’s not going to be any easy game. We got to get in our mind that we’re going to go out and win the game and we’re going to get it done. Until we do that, we’ll have the same results.”
Do the Raiders Want to Bench Geno Smith?
Smith was signed to provide veteran leadership for a young Raiders offense. Surprisingly, the errors often associated with rookies or second- and third-year players are coming from the 34-year-old instead. Still, head coach Pete Carroll clarified why Kenny Pickett wasn’t inserted once the game was effectively out of reach.
“Here’s the reason why I didn’t do that: We need to stay out there and keep practicing, ” Carroll said postgame when asked if there was a thought to bench Smith for Pickett. “We need to keep practicing, we need the reps, we need the turns, we need to run the system, we need to feel it, we need to see the guys get the opportunities to improve.
“I thought about it because there was a chance to do that. … That’s not what’s necessary. We need to get better and get right, so these are the games that we’re working on, and these are the games that we learn from and grow from so that we can change the course of the way games are going.”
Las Vegas will look to turn its situation around when it hosts the struggling Tennessee Titans in Week 6 at Allegiant Stadium. A loss to a team that’s the same scenario as them should mean a long season awaits Raiders fans.
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