3 takeaways from Raiders’ loss: Smith leaves with shoulder injury — PHOTOS

The Raiders might not have hit rock bottom Sunday in their 24-17 loss to the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium, but it’s debatable how much further they can fall.

By dropping their seventh straight game, they find themselves in a three-way tie for the worst record in the NFL.

Their plunge followed a frustratingly familiar blueprint, including getting pummeled by the Broncos on three long scoring drives that covered 47 plays and nearly 30 minutes of clock and totaled 17 points.

The game also might have cost the Raiders (2-11) their quarterback.

Geno Smith left the game after the third quarter with a right shoulder injury. He was replaced by Kenny Pickett, who ended up throwing his first touchdown pass with the Raiders.

Smith will be evaluated this week, but his status for Sunday’s game at Philadelphia is unclear.

“I’m going to do what I think is the right thing to do,” Raiders coach Pete Carroll said. “If Geno can play, that’s my thought. But I know Kenny can play. And our players understood it, too.”

The Broncos (11-2) have won 10 straight, including a 10-7 home victory over the Raiders in Week 10. They are tied with the Patriots for the AFC’s best record.

The Raiders’ touchdowns came on Smith’s 15-yard pass to Brock Bowers late in the first quarter and Pickett’s 25-yard pass to Shedrick Jackson late in the game.

Quarterback Bo Nix and running back RJ Harvey had rushing touchdowns for the Broncos, and Marvin Mims Jr. returned a punt 48 yards for a TD.

A large majority of the crowd was dressed in Broncos orange.

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

1. Same issues offensively

The Raiders offense started well enough, driving 70 yards on 10 plays on their opening drive and capping it with Smith’s game-tying touchdown throw to Bowers.

But it was crickets from that point on, as the Raiders netted just 7 yards the rest of the first half and finished with 229.

By the time the offense got back on track late in the third quarter, the Broncos led 21-7.

Again, they could not mount a credible run game. Nor did they really try to. Ashton Jeanty had seven carries for 24 yards in the first half and finished with 30 yards on 10 carries.

The sixth pick overall has cracked 100 yards rushing one time this season.

“We’ll keep watching the film and see how it can get better,” Jeanty said.

The offensive line could not protect Smith, who was sacked three times while completing 13 of 21 passes for 116 yards. Pickett went 8 of 11 for 97 yards and one touchdown.

2. Defense caves on 3 big drives

The Broncos mounted two long touchdown drives on their opening possessions in the first and second halves. In all, they ran 28 plays, totaled 172 yards and scored 14 points.

They also steamrolled the Raiders on a 19-play, 90-yard fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Wil Lutz for a 24-7 lead.

“You got 16-, 20-play drives, you’re not going to win the football game,” Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said. “You got to find ways to get off the field and stop having self-inflicted wounds and learn from it.”

The Broncos held the ball for 28:24 on the three drives, using a heavy run game that totaled 152 yards for the game to essentially play keep-away.

“We got the ball run on us today, and that hasn’t been happening like that,” Carroll said.

Denver converted five third-down chances on the three drives and one fourth down.

Doing so capitalized on an area the Raiders have not been proficient in all season. They were the third-worst team in the NFL while allowing opponents to convert 45.91 percent of their third downs.

The Broncos finished 7 of 12 on third downs.

3. Another special teams gaffe

The Raiders have suffered big-time meltdowns on special teams all season. The gaffes cost special teams coordinator Tom McMahon his job.

The issue reared its ugly head again when Mims burned the Raiders on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown and 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

It was the second time this season the Raiders have surrendered a touchdown on a punt return.

It was especially frustrating considering the game was tied 7-7 and the Raiders appeared to initially have a chance to tackle Mims.

“I couldn’t see it because it was on the other side, but I know that we had a real formidable opportunity right there for us to make the tackle, and then the guy got out,” Carroll said.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.