Week 1 Preview: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Year's Record: 11-6, 1st AFC West
Head Coach: Andy Reid
Offensive Coordinator: Matt Nagy (West Coast Spread)
Defensive Coordinator: Larry Drake (Base 4-3)
Raiders trick play at end of regulation falls short as Chiefs complete comeback
For three and a half quarters, the Las Vegas Raiders were dictating the pace of the game and under new head coach David Shaw, were displaying the sort of toughness and efficient football that Shaw oversaw at Stanford for over a decade.
For an offense that finished with 282 rushing yards against the Kansas City Chiefs, their inability to finish their last two drives would come back to bite them as a fake field goal with three seconds remaining would go nowhere as the Raiders opted to go for the win instead of overtime, losing to the Chiefs 37-34 on Monday night in a thrilling season opener.
"The defense had played a lot of snaps and we had defended a lot of grass with the amount of times they were passing the ball," Shaw said after the game of the decision to go for it, "I think we can discuss if it was the right play call and if the execution was there but ultimately, I felt like going for the win there was our better chance than forcing our defense to go back out there in overtime with tired legs. It's definitely something we'll review as a coaching staff and it's on us ultimately, our guys played their butts off and we should have maybe entrusted them to keep doing so and extend the game."
Mahomes had 32 passing attempts at the half and finish the game with 58, throwing for 399 yards and three touchdowns.
The Raiders were leading 24-19 entering the fourth quarter before Mahomes completed passes of 24 and 17 yards to Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney respectively before Moore made an impressive toe drag touchdown catch from five-yards out to take the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Raiders would turn the ball over for the first time as rookie returner Ricardo Campbell fumbled the ball.
The Raiders defense would force a three-and-out and force the Chiefs to settle for a field goal and on his first carry of the night, Zamir White took it 47 yards to retake the lead with 9:17 remaining.
Another stand by the Raiders defense would give the Raiders the chance to put the game away but on 3rd and 2, the Raiders offensive line gave way to three Kansas City defenders that were able to stuff Miyan Williams in the backfield, forcing the Raiders to kick a field goal to make it 34-30 with 4:38 remaining.
The Chiefs wasted no time getting in scoring range, taking just six plays to get the ball to the Raiders 27-yard line where Moore would outmuscle rookie cornerback Travis Hunter for the touchdown.
After the game, Hunter would add that he went for the interception instead of the pass breakup, resulting in him being out of position to make a play on the ball when he overestimated its trajectory. It was an otherwise stellar debut for the rookie who surrendered just one short pass prior to that point.
Completions of 21, 8 and 8 yards to Tory Horton, DeAndre Hopkins and Ricardo Campbell would get the Raiders the ball on the Chiefs 50-yard line and after a tough drop by Michael Mayer on 3rd and 10, Justin Fields would find Brevin Jordan for the 20-yard pickup to get the ball to the Kansas City 22-yard line with no timeouts left. The Raiders would take two more shots to the endzone -- both intended for DeAndre Hopkins -- before trying the fake reverse to Mayer who was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.
Quarter 4 Skyy Moore 5 Yd pass from Patrick Mahomes -- 2pt (13:33) Jake Elliott, 46 Yd FG (11:24) Zamir White, 47 Yd run (9:16) Daniel Carlson, 43 Yd FG (3:47) Skyy Moore 27 Yd pass from Patrick Mahomes (0:56)
bro i really folded lmao for some reason, the other trick play down the field had my OT catching the ball and i once scored on the TE reverse in madden 21 or 22 so i was like fuck it lmao
Tua Tagovailoa's Detroit debut off to rocky start in clunker against the Dallas Cowboys
After being a potential savior for the Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Detroit Lions with the hope that he'd be able to do what two other former number overall picks in Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff haven't done for Detroit and that's take them to the Super Bowl.
While it's just one game, Tua's Lions debut went about as poorly as he could have predicted, scoring just fourteen points in the 20-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Tagovailoa averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, completing 15 of his 26 pass attempts for 138 yards and was sacked twice. The running game was non-existent outside of a 58-yard touchdown run by rookie Kaleb Johnson as David Montgomery was held to 3.5 yards per carry.
The Lions play the Giants next week on Monday Night Football.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 1 NFL Results 10 - 16---------24 - 21 --------- 14 - 20---------35 - 14 21 - 27--------- 21 - 28---------42 - 21 ---------10 - 07 20 - 24---------20 - 14 --------- 35 - 41---------28 - 20 34 - 28 ---------16 - 10 --------- 13 - 17---------37 - 34 --------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players of the Week QB Caleb Williams: 29 of 42, 313 yards, 4 touchdowns LB Nick Landman: 18 tackles QB Patrick Mahomes: 38 of 58, 399 yards, 3 touchdowns DE Myles Garrett: 7 tackles, 4 sacks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Injuries HB Javonte Williams: 7 weeks (collarbone) QB Anthony Richardson: 3 weeks (labrum) S Jimmie Ward: 7 weeks (collarbone) HB Kenneth Walker III: Season (torn)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Transactions
Green Bay Packers trade DT Mekhi Wingo and 2027 6th round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for G Ed Ingram
Arizona Cardinals trade OLB Korey Foreman and 2027 5th round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for OLB Cameron Thomas
Detroit Lions release QB Jameis Winston
Slimmed down and better conditioned, Miyan Williams ready to be RB1 with Laviska Shenault injury
The Las Vegas Raiders will be without running back Laviska Shenault Jr. for at least a week as the versatile option out of the backfield broke his foot in the opener.
Shenault won't go under the knife, cutting down his recovery time but with his absence, the Raiders are going to need to lean on their remaining three healthy running backs in Miyan Williams, Zamir White and rookie Lenny Evans. Against Kansas City, Shenault ran the ball ten times for 59 yards with a three-yard reception on just twelve snaps.
Wiliams led the team in rushing with a career-high 110 yards on 22 carries while White's only carry went for a 47-yard touchdown and Evans was kept busy in his rookie debut with ten carries for 40 yards.
While the team will likely keep a balanced approach, if Williams ends up carrying more of the load, his approach this offseason has him ready for it.
"I felt good after the game," Williams told the media when asked about his career high 22 carries, "I approached the off-season to be ready to be that guy, touch the ball 30, 35 times in a game if they need that from me."
Williams entered training camp at a lighter weight and plans to play around the 215-pound range for the remainder of his career after playing last year at 226 pounds.
Week 2 Preview: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Record: 0-1
Last Year's Record: 5-12, 3rd AFC South
Head Coach: Doug Pederson
Offensive Coordinator: Jim Bob Cooter (West Coast Spread)
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Caldwell (Disguise 3-4)
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars have no answers for Raiders in 31-3 rout
A mind boggling interception from Justin Fields, a mismanagement of the clock to end the first half and a three-and-out on offense to begin the second half followed by a slew of missed tackles on the Jacksonville Jaguars' first offensive drive out of halftime. The Raiders seemed on the brink of imploding and blowing yet another lead just two weeks into the season.
You couldn't tell by looking at Raiders head coach David Shaw who showed poise and confidence in a team that ultimately showed they were worthy of that confidence as the Raiders shut out the Jags offense in the second half and Justin Fields scored two touchdowns in the final two quarters to beat the Jaguars 31-3 in dominating fashion.
In a game that was never competitive, Trevor Lawrence was intercepted twice by the Raiders defense, including an end zone pick to fellow first overall pick Travis Hunter who nearly had a pick-six later in the game but dropped the pass. Lawrence finished the day 22 of 46 for 237 yards with little help from his running game (3.6 yards per carry) and ten drops from his receivers, including four from tight end Evan Engram and three from top receiver Christian Kirk. He was also sacked four times.
Despite receiver Tory Horton suffering a hip injury in practice that caused him to miss the game, Fields had one of his better passing days as a pro -- interception aside -- as he completed 66 percent of his passes but more importantly averaged 8.9 yards per attempt, pushing the ball down the field early and often, including a would-be touchdown that was dropped by Mario Williams.
With Horton out, Fields found Brevin Jordan five times for 99 yards with the backup tight end finding the endzone twice as DeAndre Hopkins caught five passes for 70 yards. The Raiders once again leaned on their running game, especially in the latter part of the game with 228 team rushing yards led by Miyan Williams who rushed for 124 yards and a score.
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1 Daniel Carlson, 52 Yd FG (10:32)
Quarter 2 Cameron Dicker, 55 Yd FG (10:34) Miyan Williams, 1 Yd run (6:41) Brevin Jordan 14 Yd pass from Justin Fields (3:52)
Quarter 3 Justin Fields, 5 Yd run (6:43)
Quarter 4 Brevin Jordan 14 Yd pass from Jusitn Fields (2:36)
Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence resets the QB market with $334 million extension
Despite a lack of playoff success with more losing seasons (2) than playoff wins (1) through his first five seasons and not a single Pro Bowl or All-Pro honor, Trevor Lawrence signed the biggest deal in NFL history, inking a six year, $334 million extension with the Jaguars with $196 million being guaranteed.
Lawrence is set to make a whopping $53.6 million next season which escalates to as high as $65.9 million in 2030. The former number one overall pick has bounced back from a disappointing rookie season under Urban Meyer and through three full seasons with Doug Pederson, he's averaging 28 touchdowns, ten interceptions and 214 passing yards per game, hardly lighting the world on fire.
By comparison, the 49ers were able to re-sign Brock Purdy to a modest four year, $110 million with a Pro Bowl appearance, an NFC championship game appearance and a Super Bowl appearance under his belt.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Week 2 NFL Results 20 - 28--------- 13 - 17---------22 - 21 --------- 21 - 35 31 - 03 --------- 21 - 35--------- 17 - 20---------23 - 17 35 - 10 ---------31 - 28 ---------31 - 28 ---------24 - 21 35 - 14 --------- 24 - 27--------- 21 - 24---------21 - 16 --------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Players of the Week QB Drew Allar: 17 of 33, 268 yards, 4 touchdowns DE Aaron Donald: 3 tackles, 3 sacks HB Josh Jacobs: 19 carries, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns DT Quinnen Williams: 7 tackles, 3 sacks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Injuries HB Javonte Williams: 6 weeks (collarbone) QB Anthony Richardson: 2 weeks (labrum) LB Bobby Okereke: 7 weeks (ankle) HB Aaron Jones: 5 weeks (rib) S Jimmie Ward: 6 weeks (collarbone) HB Kenneth Walker III: Season (torn)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2026 NFL Draft Board - Quarterbacks QB Arch Manning [QB #1]: 6'4", 215lbs | A Deep Accuracy, A Short Accuracy, Solid Speed, Great Throw Power QB Justin Whitmore [QB #2]: 6'3", 235lbs | C Under Pressure, Marginal Speed, Elite Throw Power QB Bret Main [QB #3]: 6'4", 239lbs | B Deep Accuracy, B Under Pressure, Marginal Speed, Elite Throw Power QB Jason Sweeney [QB #4]: 6'5", 230lbs | B Medium Accuracy, B Under Pressure, Decent Speed, Elite Throw Power QB Jeremiah Fowler [QB #5]: 5'11", 208lbs | C Medium Accuracy, Solid Speed, Good Throw Power
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notable Transactions
Chicago Bears re-sign WR D.J. Moore (4yr/$65m)
Houston Texans re-sign HB Dameon Pierce (4yr/$30.4m)
Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign OLB T.J. Watt (4yr/$126m)
Seattle Seahawks re-sign S Jamal Adams (3yr/$43.1m)
Seattle Seahawks re-sign HB Kenneth Walker III (4yr/$49.4m)
Cincinnati Bengals re-sign WR Ja'marr Chase (4yr/$138m)
Detroit Lions re-sign DE Aidan Hutchinson (3yr/$45.8m)
Detroit Lions re-sign QB Tua Tagovailoa (5yr/$268m)
Detroit Lions re-sign OT Penei Sewell (4yr/$86.5m)
Jacksonville Jaguars re-sign QB Trevor Lawrence (6yr/$334m)
San Francisco 49ers re-sign HB Christian McCaffrey (3yr/$44.9m)
San Francisco 49ers re-sign QB Brock Purdy (4yr/$110m)
San Francisco 49ers re-sign WR Deebo Samuel (4yr/$87.1m)
Denver Broncos re-sign CB Patrick Surtain II (5yr/$121m)
Buffalo Bills resign DE Greg Rousseau (3yr/$64.4m)
G Dylan Parham (out - abdomen)
Jake Elliott, 53 Yd FG (12:36)
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Cameron Dicker, 55 Yd FG (10:34)
QB Arch Manning [QB #1]: 6'4", 215lbs | A Deep Accuracy, A Short Accuracy, Solid Speed, Great Throw Power
QB Justin Whitmore [QB #2]: 6'3", 235lbs | C Under Pressure, Marginal Speed, Elite Throw Power
QB Bret Main [QB #3]: 6'4", 239lbs | B Deep Accuracy, B Under Pressure, Marginal Speed, Elite Throw Power
QB Jason Sweeney [QB #4]: 6'5", 230lbs | B Medium Accuracy, B Under Pressure, Decent Speed, Elite Throw Power
QB Jeremiah Fowler [QB #5]: 5'11", 208lbs | C Medium Accuracy, Solid Speed, Good Throw Power