Raiders’ emotional late-season run ends in loss to Bengals
Updated January 15, 2022 - 8:30 pm

Raiders guard Alex Leatherwood (70) walks off the field after his team’s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) shows his frustration on the sideline in the second half during an NFL playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia coaches his team in the second half during an NFL playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

A dejected Raiders fan in a sea of orange leaps on the wall to the field during an NFL playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) walks off the field after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Cheerleaders walk off the field after the Cincinnati Bengals win over the Raiders in an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) walks off the field after his team’s loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) and Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) break up a pass attempt to Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) on the last play fo the game in the second half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (7) miss the ball for an incomplete pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half on an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

in the second half on an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) runs as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) looks for the tackle during the second half of an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

NFL referees discuss a penalty flag thrown during the second half of an NFL playoff game between the Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) celebrates his touchdown catch with running back Joe Mixon (28) and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) in the first half on an NFL playoff game against the Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd (83) and running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrate a touchdown in the first half on an NFL playoff game against the Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a catch as Raiders cornerback Desmond Trufant (10) tackles him during the second half of an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) holds on to a fumble recovery after being tackled by Raiders offensive tackle Kolton Miller (74) during the first half of an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders interim head coach Rich Bisaccia speaks to field judge Joe Blubaugh (57) during the second half of an NFL playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) reaches for extra yardage while being tackled by Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) in the second half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (77) wraps up Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first half of an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans (25) breaks the tackle of Raiders defensive back Keisean Nixon (22) and Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) in the first half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is sacked at the goal line by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end B.J. Hill (92) in the first half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Clark Harris (46) and Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) celebrate in front of Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward (29) and Raiders free safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) after kicking a field goal in the second half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) calls for the snap behind the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL playoff game against the Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) breaks off a big run past Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) and Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (94) in the first half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) attempts to haul in a pass with Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward (29) defending in the first half during an NFL playoff football game on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Raiders fans during an NFL playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at Paul Brown Stadium, in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

in the first half on an NFL playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr attends the postgame news conference after losing an NFL playoff game, 26-19, to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs attends the postgame news conference after losing an NFL playoff game, 26-19, to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Cincinnati. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @HeidiFang
CINCINNATI — The dynamics that led to the conclusion of the Raiders’ season were as familiar as they were frustrating. Needing to play clean, efficient football Saturday in their wild-card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Raiders fell woefully short in both categories.
The result was a 26-19 loss that sent them into an offseason filled with uncertainty.
If not for their self-inflicted wounds, they would be spending next week preparing for the next playoff opponent rather than contemplating the short- and long-range future of the franchise.
“I know I’m going to be upset when I watch the film,” running back Josh Jacobs said.
The whole team will. The Raiders surpassed the Bengals in total yards (385 to 308) first downs (23-18) and third-down efficiency, converting 8 of 18 attempts to 5 of 12, only to come up short. That’s because they could not do better on the Bengals’ side of the field and committed too many penalties.
Of the six trips they made inside the Bengals’ 29-yard line, the Raiders managed one touchdown while settling for four field goals. The most obvious and painful failure occurred on their last drive when they fought to the Bengals’ 9-yard line only to come up empty in the closing seconds.
After spiking the ball to kill the clock with 30 seconds remaining, three ensuing plays failed to push the ball forward, including the last-gasp throw Derek Carr tried to get to Zay Zones between a sea of defensive hands.
Jones never had a chance. When Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt came up with it for a game-saving interception, one of the most successful Raiders seasons in recent years came to an abrupt end.
“We just didn’t play good enough in the red zone today,” Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia said. “Not enough touchdowns. We made field goals.”
In so doing, the Raiders became the second team in 18 seasons to get into the red zone five or more times in a playoff game but only score one touchdown. It’s been a season-long issue. Their 2021 red zone touchdown percentage of 49.2 is their fourth-lowest mark in 15 seasons, according to Sport Radar.
That was a recipe for disaster against the high-powered Bengals, who played just well enough to continually keep the Raiders at arms length and, when it came down to the closing seconds, came up with a game-saving play.
“You can talk about the red zone … everything is just frustrating right now,” said Carr, who finished with 310 yards passing, a touchdown and an interception, completing 29 of 54 attempts.“I didn’t expect it to go this way. I didn’t feel like it would go this way all through the game. At any point. All the way up until the last couple seconds.”
But it did.
In many ways, the Raiders have mostly themselves to blame. In a season for which so much was accomplished, they head to the offseason knowing they were their worst enemy in far too many of their losses.
“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot sometimes,” tight end Darren Waller said.
That they nearly overcame their own mistakes to beat a division-winning team in a playoff game was both a frustrating letdown and a poignant eye-opener.
“You don’t know until you play in a playoff game. But you go out there, and you’re like, oh yeah, we can do this,” Carr said. “And so you get a taste of it and, I don’t know, it did something to my heart. I thought it was on fire … I just can’t not play in the playoffs.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on Twitter.