Despite going up against rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Las Vegas Raiders couldn’t capitalize and fell 24-10 to the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium on November 23.
Sanders wasn’t dominant but made plays when needed against the Raiders’ defense. The Browns standout completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 passing yards and one touchdown.
With the loss, the Raiders move to 2-9, and now it’s all about finishing the 2025 NFL season and seeing what the team’s front office does to improve the team for 2026. Nonetheless, Maxx Crosby sent a message to every player considering throwing in the towel and mailing it in.
“At this point, you’re not playing for the playoffs, which is unfortunate, but you just have to keep showing up every day, stay positive, and keep working,” Crosby told reporters after the loss. “You work all year to have 17 opportunities, and that is all you can do; you can cry and moan, but it is what it is.
“You play for the love of the game, and we’re in the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed, and tomorrow is not guaranteed for anybody. You should keep showing up and keep working.”
Geno Smith Talks Being Sacked 10 Times by Browns
Las Vegas relied heavily on the pass once more, with Geno Smith throwing 30 of 44 for 285 yards and a touchdown. That strategy, directed by offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, came with a steep price: the offensive line gave up 10 sacks.
Even with Smith’s numerous drop-back attempts, the Raiders managed just 10 points, extending their losing streak to five games. After the defeat to the Browns, Smith addressed reporters, explaining what went wrong on offense that allowed him to be sacked so frequently.
“It’s really on me,” Smith said about getting sacked on 10 occasions. “I got to make better plays, find a way… I wasn’t counting the plays or the sacks so that’s new information to me; I was just trying to go out there and execute and try to get the job done. In the first half, it looked like there were maybe two separate plays where there was some miscommunication and not everyone knew what the play was.”
Raiders Avoided Using Rookie Tackles
Raiders head coach Pete explained that even though the offensive line allowed 10 sacks in the loss to the Browns, he didn’t consider making any in-game adjustments, despite having rookie tackles Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant available.
“We watch practice every day, study the film, and do our work to make our evaluations,” Carroll told reporters. “Those guys will have their day, maybe sooner rather than later, and based on what we’ve seen and what we know, we’re giving it our best shot…
“We thought our best shot was to keep Jordan [Meredith] playing at guard. [Alex Cappa] has been snapping [at center] more seriously lately to give him that opportunity. He looked pretty good at the spot, and based on our practice time and evaluation, it was better to have Jordan there and have Cap jump in at center.”
The Raiders now turn their attention to a Week 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, aiming to finish the season on a positive note.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Sends Strong Words After Losing to Browns appeared first on Heavy Sports.