Raiders Take Control as Jets' Lead Collapses

The New York Jets scored on their first six possessions, but the Las Vegas Raiders took the game back with a fourth-quarter touchdown and a final interception, winning 38-33 on Sunday, Nov. 1. The Jets led by nine at halftime. The scoreboard changed hands again and again; in the closing seconds, safety Jeremy Chinn intercepted Geno Smith’s desperation pass in the end zone to seal the Raiders’ comeback and snap a four-game losing streak.

The lead keeps changing hands

Kirk Cousins completed 19 of 26 passes for 247 yards, threw three touchdown passes and ran for a one-yard touchdown. The Raiders opened their scoring with a 12-yard pass to Brock Bowers in the first quarter. Bowers caught two touchdown passes, including a two-yard reception to open the second half and cut New York’s lead to 23-21.

The Jets answered when Braelon Allen ran 21 yards for a touchdown, putting New York ahead 30-21. Cousins scored on a one-yard run, then Las Vegas moved in front when Cousins connected with Jalen Nailor on a two-yard touchdown pass. Five plays after Ashton Jeanty made a 45-yard catch, Nailor’s score made it 35-30 with 11:33 left.

New York’s Jason Sanders kicked a 31-yard field goal. Matt Gay answered with a 53-yarder with 31 seconds remaining, giving Las Vegas a five-point lead. The Jets had one last possession, starting at their 35 with 27 seconds left. Garrett Wilson caught a 15-yard pass, and an unnecessary roughness penalty on Chinn moved the ball to the Raiders’ 35. Smith’s throw toward the end zone with 14 seconds left ended in Chinn’s interception.

A record return and a sideline ritual

Dylan Laube returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, putting Las Vegas back ahead 14-13. It was the NFL’s first kickoff-return touchdown of the season and the first of Laube’s three-year career. The Jets had opened with a 21-yard field goal; after Cousins’ touchdown pass to Bowers, Sanders kicked a 36-yarder and Smith threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Williams.

Smith later threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell on fourth-and-1, making it 20-14. Sanders added a 39-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the first half. The article reports that this was New York’s first score in the final two minutes of a first half in two seasons under coach Aaron Glenn; in those situations, the Jets had been outscored 107-6.

After Cousins’ rushing touchdown made it a two-point game in the third quarter, he crouched near the Raiders’ sideline and flapped his right elbow like a chicken wing. Cousins called it “my wellness celebration.” He said, “We do a lot of tissue work here. At my age, it's especially helpful. ... So I said someday if I run a touchdown in, I'm going to give a shoutout to all the staff that works so hard to help us feel good and be one of the healthier teams in the league.” He said he’d forgotten the celebration until Brock Bowers reminded him: “Brock, who doesn't say much,” Cousins said, “goes: 'Hit them with the wellness celebration!'”

The final numbers

Rookie Mike Washington Jr. ran for 83 yards on 25 carries. Jeanty carried twice for nine yards and caught three passes for 64 yards. Coach Klint Kubiak said, “Ashton is still going to be a big part of our team. He made a huge catch. He's going to be a huge part of our run game going forward.”

Smith finished 20 of 32 for 290 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. Allen ran for 147 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. The Jets, now 2-6, had lost three in a row. Smith said, “I think we didn't do enough to win the game. So that's really where my focus is, is how can we improve and get better so that we can finish the game?” Glenn said, “It's an understatement to say that we're all disappointed in the way this one ended, with not getting a victory in this game.” Raiders cornerback Darien Porter did not return after injuring his groin on Las Vegas’ first defensive play.