3 takeaways from Raiders’ loss: 2-point attempt fails in OT — PHOTOS

The Raiders were set up for a heroic finish.

Quarterback Geno Smith’s touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers with 16 seconds remaining in overtime pulled the team within one point of the Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Pete Carroll didn’t hesitate. He decided to attempt a 2-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point and settling for a tie. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly then called a play that freed up wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the end zone.

The win was in the Raiders’ grasp.

Then, they were foiled. Jacksonville defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton fought off guard Dylan Parham, jumped in the air and swatted Smith’s pass down at the line of scrimmage.

Just like that, the Raiders suffered a heartbreaking 30-29 loss to fall to 2-6 on the season.

Carroll said afterward kicking the extra point never crossed his mind.

“Let’s go for the win,” Carroll said. “Let’s try to win the game.”

Smith felt the same way. Especially after the Jaguars defense lined up exactly how he hoped it would.

“We had the alert that we wanted,” Smith said. “Chip called a great play. They reacted how we wanted. Tyler Lockett’s open in the back of the end zone.”

But the ball never reached Lockett. Hamilton sent it to the ground instead.

“We win the game if the guy doesn’t jump up and tip the ball,” Smith said. “Hats off to him, he made the play.”

Jacksonville (5-3) scored a touchdown the first possession of overtime when quarterback Trevor Lawrence reached the ball over the goal line from 1 yard out.

The Jaguars tied the game with 16 seconds remaining in regulation on a 48-yard field goal from kicker Cam Little. Bowers had previously given the Raiders a 23-20 lead with a 27-yard touchdown reception with 1:52 to play.

Bowers, who missed the team’s last three games with a knee injury, finished with 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. The 22-year-old also had six rushing yards on one carry.

Smith completed 29 of his 39 passes for 284 yards with four touchdowns and one interception for the Raiders, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Jacksonville trailed 9-6 after the third quarter. The teams alternated touchdown drives in the fourth before Little’s kick sent the game to overtime.

Little also hit a 68-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, setting an NFL regular-season record.

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

1. Special teams woes continue

Kicker Daniel Carlson missed an extra point in the second quarter, which ended up being a killer for the Raiders. That meant the Jaguars only needed a field goal to tie the game when they got the ball back at the end of regulation.

Jacksonville also got a 54-yard kickoff return from wide receiver Austin Trammell to start overtime. The short field was a huge benefit for Lawrence, who only needed to march the Jaguars 44 yards to reach the end zone.

Those two special teams gaffes overshadowed an excellent effort from Raiders running back Raheem Mostert, who had 202 yards on five kickoff returns. Mostert had a 51-yard kickoff return after Lawrence’s touchdown in overtime to set his team up at Jacksonville’s 45-yard line.

Special teams have been a sore spot for the Raiders all season.

They gave up a 90-yard punt return touchdown in a Week 3 loss to the Commanders, had a potential game-winning field goal get blocked in Week 4 against the Bears and had a punt get blocked in a Week 5 loss to the Colts.

2. Jeanty, Bowers shine

The Raiders waited a long time to get running back Ashton Jeanty and Bowers healthy and back on the field together. The two showed they can be a dynamic duo for the franchise moving forward.

Bowers’ return pumped some life into an offense that entered the game ranked 31st in the NFL in scoring. The 2024 first-round pick, who set a record for receptions by a rookie last season with 112, looked like himself for the first time since the season opener. Bowers suffered his knee injury that game and was limited for three weeks. He then missed three games and used the Raiders’ bye week to heal.

Jeanty, the team’s first-round pick this year, finished with 42 rushing yards on 13 carries. He also had five receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown.

It’s worth questioning why Kelly didn’t give Jeanty the ball more. The Raiders finished with 39 passing attempts and 19 rushing attempts, even though they didn’t trail until the fourth quarter.

3. Defensive changes

Carroll hinted the Raiders used their bye week to consider several lineup changes. The team showed that it wasn’t all talk by mixing things up in the secondary on Sunday.

Rookie third-round pick Darien Porter started at cornerback over Bishop Gorman alum Kyu Blu Kelly. The Raiders also elevated Greedy Vance from their practice squad to play at slot cornerback and made veteran Darnay Holmes inactive. Free safety Tristin McCollum was given a larger role as well.

Porter finished with 10 tackles, second-most on the team, and was solid in coverage. McCollum had three tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass breakup.

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