As the Las Vegas Raiders wrapped up their preseason with a 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the brief sparkle from their starting units couldn't offset the subsequent letdown. Raiders' coach Pete Carroll expressed satisfaction with the first teams, particularly with the initial push on both sides of the ball, but it was the Cardinals who ultimately emerged with the win, as reported by AP News.
The Raiders' defense started strong, forcing a quick three-and-out, with Maxx Crosby, in particular, showcasing his disruptive abilities. According to AP News, Geno Smith was also on target, completing a 17-yard touchdown pass to rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr, but that was about as good as it got for the Raiders. "They’ve done everything we could have asked," Carroll said, despite the loss on Saturday night; however, there was a notable lack of a comma before the quotation.
Injuries dampened the Raiders' spirit with backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell exiting the game due to a fractured right wrist, leaving third-string rookie Cam Miller to take the reins. Miller's performance, which included 12 of 24 passes for 102 yards, was a significant step down from O’Connell's brief but efficient 3 of 4 for 36 yards, as per Raiders.com. Carroll lamented O'Connell's injury, telling the AP News, "He fractured his wrist — he’s hurt — it’s going to be a while. That’s a big blow for us."
Meanwhile, the Cardinals took advantage of the situation. Third-string quarterback Clayton Tune managed the game throughout, tallying 83 yards and a touchdown pass. His efforts were complemented by a strong ground game, punctuated by Zonovan Knight's 67-yard touchdown sprint that secured the Cardinals' lead. The Raiders struggled with miscues, particularly the nine penalties for 77 yards that undermined their attempt to regain ground.
With the preseason now behind them, the onus falls on the Raiders' management to fine-tune their 53-man roster. Cuts are on the horizon, and the team's performances, particularly those during the preseason finales, will weigh heavily in those decisions. Both the Cardinals and the Raiders have their eyes set on September 7th, when they will commence their regular season against different opponents, as noted by AP News.
