In a disappointing Monday night clash at Ford Field, the Las Vegas Raiders suffered a 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. The game left star quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo searching for words to summarise his performance. At the same time, All-Pro receiver Davante Adams was almost speechless in the wake of a lacklustre display by the Las Vegas offence, which was outgained by the Lions 486-157 in total yardage.
What is the performance of Garoppolo ?
Garoppolo, who had missed the previous week’s game against the Chicago Bears due to a back injury, had a night to forget. He completed just 10 of 21 passes for 126 yards, threw an interception in the end zone, and was sacked six times, equalling his career-high. His passer rating of 46.9 was the third-lowest of his career in a start. Despite missing 2½ games, including the Raiders’ Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers due to a concussion, Garoppolo now leads the NFL with nine interceptions.
“It starts with me,” Garoppolo acknowledged, “We’ve got to be better, and we will be.”
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels emphasized the importance of ball security, stating, “We can’t win if we give the ball away, period,” and clarifying that he wasn’t singling out Garoppolo for the team’s struggles.
Davante Adams, on the other hand, endured a frustrating evening. He managed only one catch on seven targets for 11 yards, resulting in a dismal 14% catch rate, tied for the worst of his career when targeted at least five times in a game. Garoppolo’s passes intended for Adams were often off the mark.
Adams said, “To be honest, I don’t know what to say at this moment,” expressing his dissatisfaction. I wish I had the right words to describe something that wouldn’t be misinterpreted and magnified by the media.”
Over the past four games, Adams has accumulated just 142 receiving yards, his lowest four-game total since his second year in the NFL in 2015 with the Green Bay Packers. He also has yet to catch a touchdown pass since Week 3.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Adams remains confident in the team’s offence, emphasizing the need to continue improving.
Garoppolo faced numerous difficulties against the Lions’ defence. He struggled on throws of 15 or more air yards downfield, completing only 2 of 7 passes in such situations. Additionally, he had limited success on 2, 3, and 4th downs, going 3 for 10. He could have been more influential on throws outside the numbers, completing only 1 of 7 attempts. His struggles extended to targeting receivers, including a 1-for-7 record when targeting Adams.
In a concerning stat, no Raiders receivers touched the ball in the first half, highlighting the offensive woes.
With a pressure rate of 43%, the Lions consistently pressurized Garoppolo, the most he had encountered since Week 8 of the 2020 season when he was a member of the San Francisco 49ers and they faced the Seattle Seahawks.
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Despite the challenges and frustrations, Garoppolo emphasized that he wouldn’t make excuses and needed to perform better. He acknowledged that the team needed to string together more consistent performances, especially given the camaraderie in the locker room.
McDaniels, the Raiders’ offensive play-caller, recognized the need for adjustments in the offence but declined to comment on the possibility of a change at the quarterback position.
Signed to a three-year, $72.75 million free-agent contract to replace Derek Carr, Garoppolo has faced his share of injuries and challenges, including offseason surgery on his left foot and a slow return to the field. The road ahead looks uncertain for the Raiders, with both Garoppolo and Adams facing significant pressure to turn their season around.
After their disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions, the Las Vegas Raiders find themselves at a crossroads, with questions looming over the performance of key players, including quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and star receiver Davante Adams. Despite the frustration and setbacks, the team remains committed to improving and regaining its form as they navigate the challenges of the NFL season.
