Title: Jimmy Garoppolo’s Three Interceptions Seal Steelers’ Win Against Raiders
Date: September 25, 2023
Author: Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff Writer
Summary: Jimmy Garoppolo’s third interception of the game proved costly for the Las Vegas Raiders as they fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a tight contest. Despite the interception, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels defended his decision to kick a field goal late in the fourth quarter instead of going for it on fourth-and-4, citing faith in his defense to get the ball back. The Steelers held on to win 23-18, leaving the Raiders to ponder their missed opportunities.
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In a thrilling Sunday night matchup, the Las Vegas Raiders faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium. However, it was Jimmy Garoppolo’s three interceptions that ultimately cost the Raiders the game.
Trailing by eight points with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels faced a crucial decision on fourth-and-4 from the Steelers’ 8-yard line. McDaniels chose to send out his field goal team, hoping to narrow the gap to a five-point deficit. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Garoppolo’s interception on a deep out pass to Davante Adams on the left sideline ended their hopes of a comeback.
McDaniels defended his decision, explaining that he had faith in his defense to make a stop and give the offense another opportunity. “You’re going to need another possession anyway, you know what I mean? So, it is not a lack of confidence,” McDaniels said.
According to ESPN analytics, going for it on fourth down would have given the Raiders a 15.8% chance of winning the game, compared to 10.2% if they had kicked the field goal. McDaniels considered these odds and felt confident in his team’s ability to secure a stop.
With three timeouts remaining and the 2-minute warning, the Raiders had a reasonable chance of getting the ball back. However, the Steelers managed to secure a first down and run down the clock, leaving the Raiders with just 12 seconds and no timeouts on their own 15-yard line.
Garoppolo’s three interceptions marred an otherwise decent performance, as he finished the game with 28-of-44 passing for 324 yards, two touchdowns, and the three interceptions. Although the quarterback was being evaluated for a concussion post-game, it remained unclear when the injury occurred.
Running back Josh Jacobs supported McDaniels’ decision to kick the field goal, noting that the defense had shown signs of improvement. “The defense was starting to play good at the end of the game. We could have got the ball back with time to score,” Jacobs said.
Wide receiver Davante Adams opted not to second-guess the decision, preferring to focus on his role as a receiver. “I don’t like getting into that. That’s not a good look for me. I’m a receiver,” Adams commented.
Ultimately, the Raiders’ missed opportunities and Garoppolo’s interceptions proved too much to overcome, resulting in a 23-18 victory for the Steelers. The loss leaves the Raiders searching for answers as they evaluate their performance and look to bounce back in their upcoming games.