Something has to give this Sunday.
Both the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns are going into Week 12 with a 2-8 record, desperately looking to gain any momentum in the closing stretch of the season.
These two teams not just have the same record, but some common strengths and weaknesses. While both of their defenses have played adequate football throughout portions of the season, offense has been a huge concern. The Raiders and Browns both rank in the bottom four teams of points scored and total offensive yardage.
"It's an involved process of trying to keep their focus and to keep their hope alive and challenge them to work," Pete Carroll said Tuesday. "Try to find the key individuals that you think could benefit from a little bit more focus, a little more emphasis, a little more pat on the back or kick in the butt, whatever it is. And then it's a variety of ways. In general, it's really keeping an eye on the future."
Here are a couple high profile matchups that could determine the outcome of this Sunday's game.
Geno Smith vs. Myles Garrett
For lack of better words, Myles Garrett is an effing problem.
He's been a problem since entering the NFL in 2017.
The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year is the first man in NFL history to record 12-plus sacks in six consecutive seasons, and his 15 sacks currently lead the league. Lately, he's looked unstoppably against offensive lines, having recorded 10 of his 15 sacks within his last three games. He's getting the job done stopping the run as well as he leads the league in tackles for loss (22).
According to Next Gen Stats, Garrett also leads the league in pressure-to-sack rate (35.7 percent), his highest mark since 2018 and highest among edge rushers this season (min. 200 pass rushes).
"He has it all," Geno Smith said about Garrett. "He's obviously a physical specimen. Big dude that can run fast, but he has all the moves. He's got speed, he's got power, and he's very disruptive. You can see it. He's had a really hot past three weeks, and we got to cool him down."
As for keeping Garrett away from Smith, it won't be for the faint of heart. With the Raiders offensive line still reconfiguring after losing Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers-Johnson, Smith has been sacked 10 times in the last two games. The Raiders quarterback is expecting his line to improve with continued practice, but he acknowledged there's more he can also do to avoid pressure.
"[A] big part is getting the ball out and hitting my back foot, getting that ball out fast so they don't have a chance to work their moves," Smith said. "And that's something that we'll build into, try to build into the game plan, but the main thing is that we execute. We've got to block them. There's no way around it. You've got to block the guy, and I've got to get the ball out so I can help those guys."
Maxx Crosby vs. Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders is expected to have one of the most highly anticipated starts for any player this season.
The Browns quarterback took the college football landscape by storm alongside his father and Colorado head coach, Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, and his Heisman Trophy winning receiver Travis Hunter. With the Colorado Buffaloes, Shedeur was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2024. He led the nation in completion percentage (74 percent) while throwing for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in his senior season.
Yet while Hunter was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders had to wait much later to hear his name called. Cleveland selected him with the 144th overall pick in the fifth round, and he went into Browns training camp as the fourth quarterback on the depth chart.
However with Deshaun Watson on injured reserve, Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco traded, and rookie Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol, Sanders stepped in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens and will now see his first NFL start against the Raiders.
His first NFL snaps were underwhelming to say the least, going 4-of-16 for 47 yards, an interception and being sacked twice.
Considering how the Ravens rattled the rookie quarterback, the Silver and Black could employ a similar game plan headed up by Maxx Crosby. No. 98 secured a strip sack on Dak Prescott on Monday Night Football and leads the Raiders in sacks (six), quarterback hits (12) and pressures (19).
The Browns offensive line allowed a 6.3 quarterback pressure percentage in Week 11. Essentially, Crosby could wreck the game for the Browns offense in similar fashion to what Garrett could do against the Raiders offense.
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The Raiders hit the practice field as they prepare for their Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Greg Joseph (34) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) and safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) walk out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Laki Tasi (79) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Charles Grant (60) and guard Atonio Mafi (56) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Cappa (65) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) and linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamin Davis (48) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) and quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive quality control coach Conner McQueen during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues (92) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (22) and pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Joe Woods during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Dalton Wagner (78), run game coordinator/offensive line coach Brennan Carroll and guard Alex Cappa (65) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) and long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
