Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is dropped and fumbles the ball by oncoming Las Vegas Raiders linebackers Luke Masterson (59) and Robert Spillane (41) at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Nov 19, 2023 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The Las Vegas Raiders (5-6) had opportunities all afternoon but could not cash in. They lost to the Miami Dolphins (7-3) 20-13 on Sunday in Miami. Forcing two fumbles plus one interception gave the Raiders a very real chance to win this game. Their offense just would not cooperate missing receivers, and demonstrating inability to move the ball.
Sunday afternoon the Raiders took on the Miami Dolphins and failed to extend their two game winning streak under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. This game was their toughest contest since Pierce took over as head coach.
The Dolphins have a deep offense that begins and ends with Superstar Tyreek Hill. Las Vegas has a defense that really made some noise and it all began with Maxx Crosby who has been very good. The Raiders held the mighty Dolphin offense to just six points in the second half.
Game recap: The Raiders got a huge break in the first quarter recovering a Miami fumble on the Dolphins 30 yard line giving Las Vegas a great scoring opportunity. The Raiders did come away with a field goal, a 34-yard kick from Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson but had given up precious points. They had an early 3-0 lead.
The dangerous Miami offense went to work scoring a touchdown and taking a 7-3 lead as the opening quarter began to run out. The score came as a result of a Dolphin quarterback Tua Tagovailoa pass to Hill for 38 yards. The Raiders answered back as the game clock ran out . With 0:01 on the clock Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell connected with Davante Adams for 46 yards and a 10-7 Raider lead.
At 2:28 in the second quarter the Dolphin offense struck again. This time Tagovailoa found Salvon Ahmed for 11 yards giving the lead back to the Dolphins. The Raiders would pull closer, once again with seconds left on the clock before the half.
Carlson would kick a 47 yard field goal. Miami would take a slim 14-13 lead into the locker room. Las Vegas had scored three times in the first half, two of them with seconds left in both the first and the second quarters. Unfortunately both of those late quarter scores resulted in field goals. The second Raider field goal came as a result of a second Miami fumble and again Las Vegas settled for a field goal. There were too many squandered points for the Raiders so far in this game.
The Raiders kept the Dolphins out of the end zone in the third quarter but Miami did score two field goals. Miami kicker Jason Sanders kicked the first, a 41 yard field goal at 5:26. The third quarter would come to an end with another Sanders kick, this one a 51 yard field goal.
This was his first 50 yard plus field goal of the season. He had missed one earlier in this game. The Dolphins now held a 20-13 lead but the Raiders had continued to keep this game a one score game.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. The final was 20-13 in favor of the Dolphins. Las Vegas had so many opportunities in this game. They left a boatload of points out on the field; their offense was sketchy for much of the game.
O’Connell had a tough day with only one touchdown and three interceptions. He threw for 271 yards and was 24 of 41. Josh Jacobs had only 39 rushing yards. O’Connell targeted a wide open Adams several times but both were overthrown.
Las Vegas had their chances in this game forcing two Miami fumbles and one interception. They kept the Dolphins out of the end zone for the entire second half. This was a winnable game for Las Vegas that evaded them.
The Raiders have a tough game in front of them next Sunday taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. They had a rare chance to beat an excellent team today but did not take advantage of it. They will be home in Las Vegas for this next game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:25 PM.
