LAS VEGAS, NV (WTAQ) – In a city where you are bombarded with bright lights and slot machines from the moment you step off an airplane at Harry Reid International Airport, three cherries on the slots means you’re a winner, for the Green Bay Packers, three interceptions means you come up losers.
In his toughest start yet, Jordan Love threw a hat trick of picks, the last swiped by Amik Robertson in front of Christian Watson in the end zone with less than a minute to play, sealing the Las Vegas Raiders 17-13 victory over the Packers. The Raiders (2-3) snapped a three game slide while the Packers (2-3) have dropped back to back prime time games heading into their bye week.
It was another struggle offensively for Matt LaFleur’s troops, playing a third game without arguably their most important playmaker. After seeing spot spot duty against Detroit last week, Aaron Jones was a late inactive scratch with his lingering hamstring injury. That left the Packers to turn to A.J. Dillon, who responded with his strongest game yet, 76 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown, but most of that came after intermission when the Packers managed just three points over the first two quarters. They’ve produced all of six points in the first half of their last three games combined.
The three they managed did come after an 8 play, 75 yard drive on their second possession. Love sparked the march with a 26 yard scamper and hit Josiah Deguara for 19 more before things stalled just inside the red zone. Anders Carlson stayed perfect on the season with a 37 yard boot and a 3-0 lead.
The Raiders pushed in front with a 14 play, 62 yard drive that consumed nearly 8 and a half minutes. Jimmy Garoppolo hit Jakobi Myers on a 9 yard slant in front of safety Rudy Ford for a 7-3 lead with 4:05 left in the second quarter.
On the next snap, Love made his first mistake. He never saw linebacker Robert Spillane drop into coverage in front of Romeo Doubs and Love nearly hit him in stride. Spillane returned the interception to the 7 yard line but the Packers defense dug in. Preston Smith deflected a third down screen pass which led to Daniel Carlson, Anders big brother, to knock through a 26 yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.
Another three and out gave Las Vegas one more shot before intermission. 18 and 16 yard completions got Carlson in range for 53 yard attempt but 6-7 reserve offensive lineman Yosh Nijman got his outstretched right hand on the kick that veered wide left.
Given good field position with :10 left, Love scrambled for 10 yards but couldn’t get the sideline before the first half clock expired.
The defense game the Pack some life on the 4th snap of the third quarter when Ford came up with his second interception in as many weeks, returning it to the Raider 37. That’s when Dillon really went to work. He carried the ball 6 times on the drive, converting a 4th and 1 and then finishing it off with a five yard touchdown run up the middle to get Green Bay back even at 10-10. The D forced a quick three and out and the offense finally made a really big play. Breaking left out of the pocket, Love found an uncovered Watson at midfield. He veered right and nearly scored if not for a wicked horse collar tackle by Marcus Peters that moved the 77 yard gain to the Las Vegas 3. But the offense sputtered on two runs and a throwaway in the end zone bringing on Carlson for a 22 yard field goal pushing the Packers in front 13-10.
The Raiders answered thanks to a 24 yard run by Josh Jacobs on the first snap after the kickoff. Former Packer star Davante Adams was having a very quiet, one catch night until he caught three balls on the drive including a 21 yard grab where he lined up in the slot and somehow was being guarded by linebacker Preston Smith. A quick inside move easily beat Smith and he carried it to the 16. On third and 3 from 9, Adams caught another slant for 7 and Jacobs finished off the 75 yard drive with a two yard power run on the opening snap of the 4th quarter.
Love converted a pair of clutch third downs on the next possession but at the Vegas 47, he forced a post into a tightly covered Watson that got batted into the air and Spillane came down with his second interception of the night.
A Rashan Gary sack on third down forced a quick punt but the Packers couldn’t move thanks to a holding penalty on backup tight end Tucker Kraft.
Head Coach Josh McDaniels decided against a 4th and 2 play at the Packer 34 at the 2:00 warning, instead, bringing out his All Pro kicker for a 52 yard try. Daniel Carlson’s boot glanced off the right upright giving the Packers one last chance to pull out the win, needing 58 yards with 1:56 left. The drive reached the Vegas 35 when Love rolled left and took a shot for Watson up the left sideline. The ball was underthrown allowing Robertson to back into the end zone interception and not allowing Christian to possibly break up the play.
Garoppolo took a couple of knees and the Packers took another tough loss.
Here’s what LaFleur had to say:
As for Love, he faced the music after going 16 of 39 for 182 yards, 0 TD’s, 3 INT’s and a rating of just 32.2. He opened his post gamer by discussing the final pick.
Statistically speaking, this game was almost a dead heat, maybe more indicative of how far away both clubs are from the top tier teams. The Packers outgained Las Vegas 285-279. They had more rushing yards, 110-96, slightly fewer net passing yards, 175-183. Green Bay out-sacked the Raiders 4-2, with Kenny Clark, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enegbare recording them. The Packers were 4 of 12 on third down (33.3%), the Raiders were 5 of 13 (38%). Both teams punted 4 times. The biggest difference? The interceptions, 3-1.
The defense lost a couple of players to injury, Quay Walker left with a knee injury and Darnell Savage hobbled off with a calf pull. Neither returned. Eric Wilson stepped in at linebacker for Walker with 7 tackles, three behind Isaiah McDuffie who had 10 in place of the still injured De’Vondre Campbell. Jonathan Owens manned Savage’s safety spot.
The inactives aside from Jones and Campbell were Malik Heath, Anthony Johnson Jr., Zayne Anderson and Caleb Jones.
The Packers had won 8 straight games against the Raiders in the series.
After a week off, the Packers return to action against the Denver Broncos back out west on October 21.
