3 takeaways from Raiders’ loss: Smith, defense fall short against Colts

INDIANAPOLIS — The Raiders came to Indianapolis seeking solutions to end their three-game losing streak. They instead raised even more questions in a 40-6 blowout loss to the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.

All three phases contributed to the Raiders’ fourth straight loss. Quarterback Geno Smith threw two more interceptions. There was another major breakdown on special teams. And the defense couldn’t get the Colts off the field.

Smith has nine picks through five games, the most in the NFL. Indianapolis turned both interceptions into touchdowns.

The Colts (4-1) also blocked a punt in the second quarter and scored a touchdown four plays later.

Smith shouldered the blame for the loss.

“If something don’t look right out there, put it on me,” Smith said. “Offense, defense, special teams. If it ain’t looking right, it’s on me.”

It will take all the Raiders’ resolve to ensure yet another season doesn’t go down the drain after a 1-4 start.

“It comes from leadership, veteran guys, just staying locked in, attacking the process,” linebacker Devin White said. “Not coming to work and being like it didn’t happen. Because at the end of the day, this can trickle down and it can turn into something major. Or it can be something that you don’t want to happen again, and get it fixed.”

Running back Jonathan Taylor had 66 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries for the Colts, who led 20-3 at halftime and 40-3 after the third quarter.

Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty had 67 yards on 14 carries for the Raiders, who kicked a field goal on their first possession and didn’t score again until the fourth quarter. Jeanty also had five catches for 42 yards.

The Raiders’ offense was missing left tackle Kolton Miller (ankle) and tight ends Brock Bowers (knee) and Michael Mayer (concussion). Smith struggled to pick up the slack. He was sacked four times.

Here are three takeaways from the defeat:

1. Mistakes doom Smith again

It’s getting redundant at this point, but Smith’s play was a problem Sunday. His errors sabotaged the Raiders’ first two trips to the red zone.

He failed to throw the ball away on the team’s opening possession and was sacked for an 11-yard loss on second-and-goal from the Colts’ 3-yard line. The Raiders had to settle for a field goal.

The team was trailing 14-3 the next time it reached the red zone. Smith tried to rifle a pass to rookie wide receiver Jack Bech on second-and-10 from the Colts’ 11, but the pass was low enough for nose tackle Grover Stewart to tip the ball into the air. Defensive end Laiatu Latu grabbed it for an interception that prevented the Raiders from scoring.

Smith’s second interception came with 6:19 remaining in the third quarter. Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon returned the ball to the Raiders’ 6. Running back Ameer Abdullah scored from 2 yards out two plays later to put Indianapolis up 32-3.

“This is the big boy leagues. It is the NFL. It’s the best of the best. And you got to go out there and you got to get it done,” Smith said. “Until we figure that out, we’re gonna have the same results.”

2. Special teams not so special

The Raiders’ special teams unit, which has been downright awful this year, had another rough day Sunday.

The team missed a block on a second-quarter punt from its own 36, allowing linebacker Segun Olubi to get his hands on the ball. The Colts took over at the 8-yard line and later went up 14-3 on Taylor’s first touchdown.

The Raiders have now had three punts blocked since the start of last season, the most in the NFL. Their latest gaffe added to their series of special-teams miscues this year.

The Raiders had a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the final minute of their loss to the Bears last week. They gave up a 61-yard kickoff return and a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown the week before in their loss to the Commanders.

The Raiders also allowed the Colts to return a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown Sunday, but the play was called back on a holding penalty.

“There’s big plays that are happening to us that just have to be solved,” coach Pete Carroll said. “We have to get the kicking game cleaned up. We can’t let this happen. The blocks and the significant field changes, they’re just huge to deal with.”

3. Defense no good

The interceptions and blocked punt did the Raiders’ defense no favors. But that doesn’t excuse its passive play.

The group had almost no resistance at times. Indianapolis converted eight of its nine third downs in the first three quarters before quarterback Daniel Jones was pulled for backup Anthony Richardson.

“That’s the money down,” White said. “Whether that’s just putting it on ourselves, making a play, being more aggressive, going to go get the quarterback and speed them up, whatever we do, you know, we just got to be ready as a unit to get the job done.”

The Raiders got almost no pressure up front. Jones wasn’t sacked on 29 passing attempts.

The game continued a hot start for the Colts offense under third-year coach Shane Steichen, a former UNLV quarterback. Indianapolis entered Sunday ranked fourth in the NFL in points (30.8) and yards (397.3) per game.

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