Geno Smith’s Las Vegas Raiders debut went about as well as anybody could’ve hoped for. The team beat the New England Patriots 20-13, and while Smith did have one interception, he kept the ball moving and made some big plays when they needed him to.
He finished the game with 362 passing yards and a touchdown. It was the best quarterback performance the Raiders have had in at least two seasons, and it was just his first game. The team has to be feeling good about where he can lead them.
One person who was definitely keeping a close eye on Smith’s performance was Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. Las Vegas was playing his former team, and though he couldn’t be at the game, he made sure to send Smith a text after the win.
“Good game. Get ready for the next one,” Brady texted to Smith, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Due to his obligations with Fox Sports, Brady isn’t going to be at very many Raiders games this season. However, it’s clear that he’s still going to make his presence felt, especially for the quarterback.
Raiders Not Celebrating Too Much
The Raiders did start the season on a high note, but they beat a team that has won back games in each of the last two seasons and a young, unproven quarterback. People were high on the Patriots this season due to the upgrades to the roster and coaching staff, but they still haven’t proven they’re a good team.
Smith was happy to get the win, but he’s not making too big a deal about it.
“It’s just one win,” Smith said, via Breer. “It’s hard to win in the NFL—takes a lot of hard work. The thing I saw with the game flow, midway through the second quarter, we hit a rut, but no one was down on themselves. We regrouped and executed after the half. I always look at the things we can improve on and get better at. But we all stuck together. No one was upset. That’s the markings of a Pete Carroll team.”
Head coach Pete Carroll has been Smith’s biggest supporter, but thought he simply had a normal game on Sunday.
“Geno had a regular game today,” Carroll told reporters after the game. “I don’t think it was a statement game or anything like that; I just think it was what he does.”
Smith Knows Raiders Still Have Work To Do
The Raiders have been really good at losing ugly games the last several years, but the fact that they were able to adjust in the second half and take control against the Patriots is a very good sign.
It’s clear that Las Vegas is finally headed in the right direction, but it remains to be seen how far they can go this year. Smith isn’t going to make too much of the hot start, and he’s stressing that there’s still work that needs to be done.
“It’s a great opportunity, but we can’t bypass the work,” Smith said. “It is cool thinking about what we can be, but if we don’t take the right approach, it will just be a dream. We have to make it a reality. “
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