Geno Smith Plays Through Injury in Raiders' Loss
Geno Smith showed toughness on Thursday night, returning to the game after leaving briefly due to an injury scare during the Las Vegas Raiders' 10-7 defeat to the Denver Broncos.
Raiders Struggle Against Broncos Defense
The Raiders fell to a 2-7 record following a poor showing in Week 10. Denver’s defense pressured Smith relentlessly, sacking him six times as part of one of the Broncos’ most effective pass rushes in history.
Smith finished with 143 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. The Raiders punted eight times, outnumbering their points scored (7) in Denver.
Smith’s Resilience on Display
“I never wanted to leave my teammates out there. I feel it’s a big responsibility of mine to be out there and do whatever I can to help,” said Smith, as reported by ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
Despite a visible limp, Smith returned after his injury timeout, underscoring his commitment to the team.
Offensive Challenges Continue for Raiders
Las Vegas' offense remained stagnant, scoring under 10 points for the fourth time this season—an NFL-high. The team totaled only 188 yards in the game.
After Ashton Jeanty scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter, the Raiders failed to score for the remaining 48 minutes.
Game Characterized by Mistakes
Both teams struggled with penalties throughout the game, each committing 11 fouls but achieving fewer than 10 first downs, contributing to a sloppy prime-time contest.
Author's summary: Geno Smith demonstrated grit by playing through injury despite a tough outing and ongoing offensive struggles for the Raiders in their loss to the Broncos.