Raiders run out of miracles against Bengals

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 defensive end Clelin Ferrell (99) walks off the field with defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) and defensive end Solomon Thomas (92) after their last play of the game 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)

Fans celebrate 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)

Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah (87) celebrates with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) after catching a touchdown in the first half during an NFL playoff football game against the Raiders 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

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 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

Like so many other games this season, it came down to one last drive, one last play for the Raiders in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on the banks of the Ohio River. ■ Only this time, the Raiders failed to produce one last miracle.

Derek Carr’s pass on fourth-and-goal from the 9-yard line was intercepted by Germaine Pratt, preserving a 26-19 Bengals victory and ending the Raiders’ season.

The Raiders had won four consecutive games during an improbable and dramatic playoff surge, and had six wins on the game’s final play. They would have happily settled for taking Cincinnati to overtime, but Carr’s pass into double coverage intended for Zay Jones was intercepted just short of the end zone.

Interim coach Rich Bisaccia said the Raiders were a group that learned to care for one another and competed relentlessly to the bitter end of a tumultuous season.

“We just ran out of time today,” Bisaccia said of a game marred by penalties and controversy.

One of the key plays was a touchdown pass by Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow late in the first half that followed an erroneous whistle after Burrow had run out of bounds.

But when it came down to one last play at the end, it was the Bengals who made it.