Raiders snap 3-game losing streak with ‘MNF’ victory

With their season on the brink against the Packers, the Raiders turned to their defense to save the day.

No, really, they did.

One big-time goal-line stand and three turnovers later, including a spectacular end-zone leap and interception by Amik Robertson in the final minute, the Raiders ended their three-game losing streak with a 17-13 win on “Monday Night Football” at Allegiant Stadium.

The timing could not be better, as winnable games await against the Patriots, Bears, Giants and Jets.

Now sitting at 2-3, the perspective of the next five weeks improves.

“One at a time, playa, one at a time,” cornerback Marcus Peters said.

The Raiders’ long-beleaguered defense, which has played progressively well despite the recent losses, was the difference.

“They played their (butts) off,” said running back Josh Jacobs, who finished with 69 yards rushing and a touchdown on 20 carries. “Any day you get three turnovers, it’s a recipe for winning. So shout out to them.”

By stonewalling the Packers 3 yards from their end zone and forcing a field goal at a critical juncture of the third quarter, the defense gave the offense a chance to take the lead and control of the game.

After Jacobs scored on a 2-yard run for a 17-13 lead, the normally reliable Daniel Carlson clanked a 52-yard-field-goal attempt off the upright with 1:56 remaining, giving the Packers one final chance.

But Robertson sealed the victory when he chased down Packers wide receiver Christian Watson in the end zone, turned just at the right time while simultaneously leaping to make the interception on Jordan Love’s pass.

The key? Robertson read the face of Watson as he closed in on him.

“When I saw his eyes getting big, I didn’t panic,” Robertson said. “I trust my ball skills, and I got my head around. And instead of waiting for it to come to me, I just jumped up and got it.”

“Unbelievable,” is how linebacker Robert Spillane described the takeaway. “One of the best interceptions I’ve ever seen.”

Spillane wasn’t too bad himself, coming up with two interceptions and being front and center when the Raiders stiffened at the foot of their goal line to hold the Packers to a field goal rather than a touchdown in the third quarter.

The irony was that it followed the only significant defensive breakdown of the night when a secondary miscommunication allowed Watson to spring free deep in the Raiders secondary for a 77-yard pass from Love. But even that sequence provided a glimpse into the growing resolve of the defense.

First, on how Peters didn’t give up on the play and dragged Watson down at the Raiders 6.

“Catch him before he gets to the end zone,” is how Peters described his mindset.

Even the penalty Peters took — he was flagged for a horse-collar tackle — was acceptable because it prevented a touchdown.

“It’s the right penalty,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “Really smart play in a critical time of the game. If it’s the first quarter in the middle of the field, you don’t want a horse collar. But if you’re saving a touchdown on a long play like that, you at least give yourself a chance to play a few more downs, which he did.”

The Raiders defense reacted accordingly.

“Let’s reset and let’s play fundamental football,” Spillane said.

It did on a night when the offense, which has yet to score 20 points in a game, continued to struggle.

Jimmy Garoppolo, who returned after missing one game with a concussion, went 22 of 31 for 208 yards and one touchdown.

The Raiders led 10-3 at halftime, though they shortchanged themselves on two big scoring chances.

The first came when they failed to cash in on a Spillane interception that set them up at the Packers’ 7, settling for a field goal. The second came when Carlson’s 53-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds came up short after getting tipped at the line of scrimmage.

The Spillane sequence was especially frustrating, as three straight plays netted negative 1 yard.

The Raiders have stressed forcing turnovers all season, especially the kind that flip the field. But after coming up with just their second takeaway of the season, one that immediately followed Garoppolo’s 9-yard touchdown throw to Jakobi Meyers, they didn’t take full advantage.

Rather than stepping on the Packers’ throat, they settled for Carlson’s 26-yard field goal and the 10-3 lead.

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