Pete Carroll: ‘I think I didn’t get them right’

It was hard for Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll to watch as his team was overmatched by the Washington Commanders to the tune of a 41-24 loss on Sunday.

Despite being without quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders offense was still able to run roughshod over the Raiders, especially with the running game putting up over 200 yards and three touchdowns. Geno Smith was forced to run for his life against an overpowered offensive line, and Tre Tucker’s three-touchdown game was the only reason the score was even as close as it was. Even special teams failed to show up, as the Commanders produced 245 yards and a touchdown of returns while the Raiders made a couple of questionable decisions on that front.

With virtually nothing going right for his team on Sunday, Carroll had no choice but to fall on his own sword during the postgame presser.

Carroll immediately took the blame for his team’s shortcomings against the Commanders.

“It’s not scheme-wise, it’s just physically, I think I didn’t get them right,” Carroll said, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. “I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t see it coming.”

The game left the Raiders to have to take a long look in the mirror, with the problems on their current roster laid completely bare all at once.

The offensive line has been a sore spot all season, with neither Smith or running back Ashton Jeanty having much time or space to operate. Critical mistakes that lead to the Commanders having big days in the run game and on special teams have to be corrected as well. All signs point to practice this week being far and away the most thorough and intense of the Carroll era so far.

“That’s just not the football we play,” Carroll said. “…If you give up big plays, you’re no good, and we were no good today.”

Carroll and the Raiders will get their chance at redemption on Sunday, when they face the 1-2 Chicago Bears.