Raiders Show Signs of Life on Offense, But Geno Smith’s Costly Pick-Six Sinks Them Again
The Las Vegas Raiders finally showed some offensive spark in Week 16, but a familiar problem reared its head at the worst possible time. Despite putting up their highest yardage total in nearly two months, a critical early mistake by quarterback Geno Smith proved to be the difference in a 23-21 loss to the Houston Texans.
Let’s start with the good: the Raiders moved the ball better than they have in weeks. Their 315 yards of total offense were their most since Week 9, and there were stretches where the unit looked more cohesive than it has in a long time. But in a game that was decided by just two points, one play stood out above the rest-and not in a good way.
A Familiar Mistake, a Familiar Result
Just over three minutes into the game, on Las Vegas’ second offensive drive, Smith made a throw he’d like to have back-and one Raider Nation has seen too many times this season. Facing a third-and-short, Smith rolled out and tried to hit rookie running back Ashton Jeanty in the flat. Instead, the ball ended up in the hands of Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who jumped the route and took it to the house for a pick-six.
It was a gut punch. And ultimately, it was the difference on the scoreboard.
After the game, Smith addressed the play, taking partial responsibility but also pointing to the play call and Jeanty’s route as contributing factors.
“On that play, man, I just gotta throw it away,” Smith said. “They had a better call than us at that time.
I think we’ve kinda worn out the roll pass. Those guys, they play Cover 2 on third-and-short.
You gotta have an out to get to a run or something like that. We can’t run that play, and I can’t - I tried to put it on Ashton, he kinda kept running, and the corner made a good play.
I gotta throw it away and live to play another down.”
Smith began and ended his comments by owning the mistake, but in between, he pointed to the play design and Jeanty’s decision to continue his route. It’s a delicate balance-quarterbacks often walk a fine line between analyzing what went wrong and appearing to shift blame. But in a season where Smith’s turnovers have been a recurring issue, this one felt especially costly.
A Better Performance, But Still Not Good Enough
To Smith’s credit, this wasn’t his worst outing of the season. He was more composed than he’s been in recent weeks, and the offense, for the most part, looked more functional.
But the mistakes that have plagued him all year didn’t vanish. In addition to the pick-six, Smith was sacked three times and took a baffling loss by running out of bounds well behind the line of scrimmage instead of throwing the ball away.
Those are the kinds of plays that kill drives-and in a tight game, they matter.
As for the interception, it’s fair to question the play call. The Raiders have gone to that roll pass look often, and defenses are starting to sniff it out.
The Texans clearly did. But even with a predictable call, the quarterback still has to make the right decision.
If the defense has it covered, throw it away and live for fourth down. That’s the situational awareness the Raiders need from their veteran signal-caller.
Jeanty’s role in the play is also worth examining. Could he have throttled down or adjusted his route?
Maybe. But that’s the kind of breakdown that needs to be sorted out in film sessions, not in postgame podium comments.
Publicly pointing fingers, even subtly, rarely plays well in the locker room-or with fans.
Where Do the Raiders Go From Here?
This game was a microcosm of the Raiders' 2025 season: flashes of potential, undone by critical errors and missed opportunities. The defense held up reasonably well.
The offense showed signs of life. But once again, a turnover turned into points for the other team, and that was the difference.
At this stage, with the playoffs out of reach, the focus shifts to evaluation. Can Smith clean up the mistakes and prove he’s still a viable option under center?
Can the coaching staff find better ways to protect the ball and avoid predictable tendencies? And can young players like Jeanty continue to grow through adversity?
The Raiders need answers. And they need them soon. Because while this team has talent, it’s being overshadowed by the same self-inflicted wounds week after week.
For now, the stat sheet will show a two-point loss. But the tape tells a deeper story-one where execution, accountability, and decision-making continue to define the Raiders’ season.