Geno Smith battered by relentless Denver defense in Raiders’ 10-7 loss

Geno Smith battered by relentless Denver defense in Raiders’ 10-7 loss

DENVER (AP) — After spending nearly the whole game on the run from the Denver Broncos’ relentless go rush, Geno Smith may barely stroll without pain.

Battered and bruised, Smith hobbled out of the locker room following the Las Vegas Raiders’ 10-7 loss to the Broncos on Thursday evening in which he was sacked six instances. He was feeling all those hits — particularly a bruised quad — however also a bit inspired.

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Despite being heavy underdogs, this game was proper there for Smith and the Raiders (2-7) to win. It was little issues that added up, like sacks that knocked them out of field-goal vary. Or a negated landing after a penalty for offensive go interference on a decide play by Dont’e Thornton.

Or a deep go that was dropped, which might’ve arrange the Raiders in Denver territory just before halftime. Or the missed area purpose from 48 yards by Daniel Carlson that would’ve tied it with 4:26 remaining, after which the Raiders never received the ball again as the Broncos (8-2) sealed their seventh straight victory.

“When the Raiders stop beating the Raiders, we’ll go out there and we can beat anybody in this league,” said the 35-year-old Smith, whose team committed 11 penalties for 83 yards. “We’ve received to cease beating ourselves first. It looks like that’s been a recurring factor every single week. I do know it’s not for our lack of effort.

“I think guys are just learning as we go.”

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The Raiders handled a patchwork offensive line, too, after dropping proper guard Jackson Powers-Johnson to a left leg injury during the game and left guard Dylan Parham to a sprained ankle. That did not assist against a defense that has 46 sacks this season and is on tempo for an NFL-record 78.

“We fought to the end,” Smith said.

Of all the hits Smith took, the one that stung most got here early in the fourth quarter when he scrambled out of the pocket and was tripped up by Broncos go rusher Nik Bonitto. As Smith fell to the floor, 290-pound defensive lineman Malcolm Roach landed on him. Smith stayed down for a minute before gingerly making his method to the sideline.

He left for only two offensive performs, though.

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“He wants to be out there with the guys, and really respect that. He’s a great player,” said tight end Brock Bowers, who caught just one go for 31 yards as the Broncos blanketed him even without star cornerback Pat Surtain II (strained pectoral muscle).

To preserve the quad unfastened, Smith jogged on the sideline and rode a stationary bike. Leaving was never an possibility. Not in a decent game.

“I never want to leave my teammates out there alone,” said Smith, who threw for 143 yards with one interception. “I feel like it’s a big responsibility of mine to be out there and to do whatever I can to help us win.”

Smith drove Las Vegas into field-goal vary with round 9:30 remaining. But then he was sacked, which prevented a possible tying kick. Later, after Kyu Blu Kelly made his second interception of the game, the Raiders have been in enterprise again.

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But they got here away empty when Carlson pushed a 48-yard field-goal try and the proper. He missed an additional point the week before in a 30-29 time beyond regulation loss to Jacksonville, and his game-winning strive in Week 4 was blocked by the Bears.

“He’s got to kick better,” coach Pete Carroll said. “I do know it kills him, too. He needs to make every one in all those.”

That’s just the manner it went all evening — and just the manner it is gone all season, too.

“In order to be a good team, you’ve got to play clean. I keep saying that every week,” Smith said. “You can’t have missed assignments. You can’t have penalties. You can’t have penalties negate big plays. Can’t have turnovers. Those are the things that hurt teams.”

And preserve them from beating good ones.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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