The Las Vegas Raiders were outmatched on the road by the Indianapolis Colts in a 40-6 loss.
The Silver and Black came into the game already a bit depleted without starters Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, Eric Stokes and Germaine Pratt. Ultimately, this led to a 34-point routing by the Colts, as the Raiders couldn't get much going in any phase of the game.
The offense controlled the tempo early, with their first drive taking up nearly 10 minutes of action. Geno Smith's first pass completion was a wheel route to Ashton Jeanty for 29 yards, an encouraging start given the quarterback's recent struggles on passes over 10 air yards.
Smith went 6-of-7 on the drive before a Tyquan Lewis sack stalled them near the goal line. Daniel Carlson sank a 24-yard field goal to put the first points on the board.
This would be the Raiders' last points scored until the fourth quarter.
A downward spiral began to unravel as the Colts scored 40 unanswered points by scoring a touchdown on six straight possessions.
After a three-and-out to start the game, the Raiders defense had difficulties getting off the field for the rest of the game. Indianapolis converted on three third downs on their second drive and went 8-of-10 on third down in totality.
The Raiders special teams unit also continued to struggle. Coming off a blocked field goal last Sunday that could've defeated the Bears, AJ Cole had a punt blocked with the Colts getting the ball at the 8-yard line. This was also after the Raiders caught a break on an Ashton Dulin 98-yard kick return for a touchdown that was called back for holding.
The Colts turned the blocked punt into seven more points, with Jonathan Taylor driving it into the end zone for three yards.
"There's big plays that are happening to us that have to be solved," said Carroll. "We have to get the kicking game cleaned up. We can't let this happen with the blocks and the significant field changes. They're just huge to deal with."
All signs pointed to the Raiders offense recapturing the momentum as Smith found Tre Tucker for a 33-yard gain. However, in the red zone, Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart deflected Smith's pass at the line of scrimmage, and edge rusher Laiatu Latu came down with the ball in mid air.
Following the interception, the Colts offense drove the ball down the field 88 yards on 14 plays. Jones connected with Colts' top receiver Michael Pittman Jr. for a four-yard touchdown.
Going into halftime with a 20-3 lead, the Colts used the ground game to churn out yards and take time off the clock. In the second half, Taylor and Ameer Abdullah combined for three rushing touchdowns, and rookie running back DJ Giddens averaged over four yards a carry.
Halfway through the third quarter, as Smith looked for Dont'e Thornton Jr. in double coverage, Mekhi Blackmon caught Smith's second interception in this contest – his ninth of the season.
Within the quarterback duel between Jones and Smith, the Colts quarterback went 20-of-29 for 212 yards, two touchdowns and a 113 passer rating. Smith finished with 228 passing yards, completing 69 percent of his throws and a recording 63.2 passer rating.
"We didn't execute the way we were supposed to. It's the reality of it," Smith said postgame. "We've got to fix it. We've got to get better. We've got to go to work and figure it out."
"I'm never discouraged," he added. "I think you guys know that about me. I don't have it in my body to be down or feel bad or feel sad. I don't have no pity in me. I'm going to grind it out and figure it out, that's just how I am. If something doesn't look right out there, put it on me. Offense, defense, special teams. If it ain't looking right, it's on me. I'm gonna figure it out."
The play of the Raiders rookie running back is about the only positive thing the team can take away from this outing. Jeanty accumulated 109 scrimmage yards on 19 touches, averaging nearly six yards per play in which the ball was put into his hands.
Now dropping four straight games since their Week 1 victory, the Silver and Black will be tasked with turning things around against a young Tennessee Titans team next week.
"I'm just kind of waiting for that moment where we kick it in, we have the answers, we make the right choices, we make the right plays, the right calls," Carroll said. "It's on all of us. It's not on the players, it's on all of us to get that right, myself totally included in all of that.
"Then we go and that's how I've always seen it. ... I told them I'm going to keep believing and I hope that you guys will do the same thing until we get this thing right."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a 24-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20), safety Jeremy Chinn (11) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) and linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71), center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) and center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Carter Runyon (46) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) and center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) before kicking a 37-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) after kicking a 37-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (29) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
