HC Pete Carroll is Struggling Hard to Process Raiders’ 1-4 Start

The Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Pete Carroll, is currently 1-4, the worst record he’s faced in his NFL or collegiate career.

HC Pete Carroll is Struggling Hard to Process Raiders’ 1-4 Start

Pete Carroll (Image via AP News)

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The Las Vegas Raiders suffered their fourth straight loss of the season on Sunday afternoon when the revived Indianapolis Colts railroaded them 40-6. The 34-point deficit is their largest point differential since an away loss in Kansas City four years ago by a margin of 48-9.

The Colts were unstoppable with stellar performances from quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor. Jones threw 20-of-29 for 212 yards and two passing touchdowns. Taylor carried 17 times for 66 yards and three touchdowns, and currently leads the league in carries, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. The Colts’ defense was also relentless, sacking the Raiders QB Geno Smith four times and pushing the offense by 38 yards in total.

Smith threw two interceptions and completed less than 70 percent of the throws. The six points came from two field goals, meaning that there were no touchdowns from the Raiders gang at Indianapolis. On paper, there were no direct positive takeaways. And the record is not what was expected from the Raiders.

The Raiders, in their first season with Pete Carroll, were expected to put up more challenges in the AFC West. The preliminary expectations of being the dark horse don’t match the current record, and that is a difficult truth, one that Carroll is struggling to swallow.

I’m processing it poorly, to tell you the truth, because I did expect to win right out of the chutes.

Pete Carroll told reporters

Ahead of the season, Carroll had even told the media that he intended to win the first bunch of games. Not only that didn’t materialize, Carroll now stares at the worst record ever in his career, NFL and college football combined.

Geno Smith and Pete Carroll had a lengthy conversation following the defeat

The reunion of Geno Smith and Pete Carroll hasn’t gone so well. The quarterback now leads the league in interceptions with nine in just five games. He has thrown more than one in three games so far, two against the Colts and thrice in the losses against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Chicago Bears.

Geno Smith-2
Geno Smith (Image via AP)

In fact, the nine interceptions in the first five games of the season are the most by any Las Vegas quarterback since 1982, when Jim Plunkett threw nine. The last quarterback in the league to record nine picks in their team’s first five games was Zach Wilson (9) for the New York Jets in 2021. The turnovers by Smith have become a highlight of the Raiders’ poor record and disappointing start. And he knows it as well.

After the game, Smith sat in front of his locker, visibly frustrated. Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty offered words of comfort, and later, Smith spent an extended moment talking with Carroll. There’s more reason for Smith’s frustrations. He might be replaced at some point if he continues with the interceptions.

Carroll admitted that he had considered replacing Smith during the garbage minutes with Kenny Pickett. The former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback was traded twice in the offseason and landed in Las Vegas. Though Carroll downplayed such a thought as giving reps to Pickett, there’s room for concern for Smith.

We need the reps. … We need to run the system. We need to see the guys get their opportunities to improve. It’s not like a big change.

Carroll added

The Raiders return to action next week against the Tennessee Titans, who share the same record as them. The Titans are considered one of the weakest teams in the league, and their last win was courtesy of costly fumbles by the Arizona Cardinals. They play once more against the Kansas City Chiefs before going into the bye week. They will hope to go with a 3-4 record and the season still salvageable.

Also Read: Cardinals Suffer Hilarious Meltdown in All-Time Collapse vs. Titans – “Goofiest Way to Lose a Game”